Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 16

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

जाग्रतो ह्येव तां रात्रिं सौमित्रेरुदितो रविः।सूतस्य तमसातीरे रामस्य ब्रुवतो गुणान्।।2.46.16।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.46.16

Transliteration

jāgrato hy eva tāṁ rātriṁ saumitrer udito raviḥ | sūtasya tamasā-tīre rāmasya bruvato guṇān ||2.46.16||

Translation

Đêm ấy, Saumitri thức trọn bên bờ sông Tamasa, trước mặt người đánh xe mà kể ca công đức của Rama; và khi lời còn vang, mặt trời đã mọc lên.

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Word by Word

• जाग्रतः: while (he) was awake
• जाग्रतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive absolute-like)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जाग्रत् (प्रातिपदिक; present participle stem from √जागृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय-आधार (present participial), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘of (one) being awake’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ

• एव: just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थ (just/only)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies रात्रिम्)

• रात्रिम्: night
• रात्रिम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण; duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सौमित्रेः: of Saumitra (Lakshmana)
• सौमित्रेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; of Lakshmana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• उदितः: risen
• उदितः: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + इ (धातु; ‘to rise’)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with रविः

• रविः: the sun
• रविः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• सूतस्य: of the charioteer
• सूतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; of the charioteer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• तमसातीरे: on Tamasa's bank
• तमसातीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमसा + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• ब्रुवतः: (of him) speaking
• ब्रुवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु; ‘to speak’)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present participle), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘of (one) speaking’ (qualifies सौमित्रेः)

• गुणान्: virtues
• गुणान्: Karma (कर्म/object of speaking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

Context

Lakshmana continued to describe Rama's virtues to the charioteer, keeping awake that entire night on the bank of Tamasa until the Sun rose.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana (Saumitri)
• Sumantra
• Rama
• Tamasa (river)
• Ravi (Sun)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma as guardianship and steadfastness: Lakshmana’s wakefulness and moral discourse reflect protective duty and unwavering commitment to righteous leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

The first night by the Tamasa passes with Lakshmana awake, speaking of Rama’s virtues to Sumantra until dawn.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alert devotion: Lakshmana’s tireless vigilance and reverence for Rama’s dharmic qualities.