Valmiki Ramayana 2.53.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 3

पञ्चाशत्तमः सर्गः (Sarga 53)

Rāma’s Lament, Vigil for Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa’s Consolation

Devanagari script

जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्यामद्यप्रभृति रात्रिषु।योगक्षेमौ हि सीताया वर्तेते लक्ष्मणावयोः।।।।

Transliteration

jāgartavyam atandribhyām adyaprabhṛti rātriṣu | yogakṣemau hi sītāyā varte te lakṣmaṇāvayoḥ ||

Translation

Này Lakṣmaṇa, từ hôm nay trở đi, chúng ta phải thức canh ban đêm, không được lơ là; vì sự an ổn và bình yên của Sītā đều nương nơi cả hai chúng ta.

Word by Word

• jāgartavyam: must keep awake
• jāgartavyam: Vidhi (विधि/कर्तव्यता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jāgṛ (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; impersonal obligation ‘must be kept awake’

• atandribhyām: by the two sleepless (ones)
• atandribhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atandra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Dual; ‘by (us) being sleepless’ (instrument of manner)

• adya-prabhṛti: from today onward
• adya-prabhṛti: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय) + prabhṛti (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial phrase ‘from today onwards’ (कालवाचक)

• rātriṣu: during the nights
• rātriṣu: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Plural

• yoga-kṣemau: acquisition and protection
• yoga-kṣemau: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of 'vartete')
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣema (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound; Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), causal/emphatic

• sītāyāḥ: of Sita
• sītāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• vartete: depend/are maintained
• vartete: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Dual, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• lakṣmaṇa: O Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• āvayoḥ: of us two
• āvayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th), Dual

Context

O Lakshmana, from now on we must be sleeplessly vigilant at night. The welfare and safety of Sita depend on us both.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsibility: protection of the vulnerable and fulfillment of one’s duty through vigilance and disciplined conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

In the forest life of exile, Rāma instructs Lakṣmaṇa to remain alert at night to safeguard Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective duty and foresight—Rāma’s careful planning to uphold safety and righteousness.