Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 2

तमसातीरवासः

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

Devanagari script

इयमद्य निशा पूर्वा सौमित्रे प्रहिता वनम्।वनवासस्य भद्रं ते स नोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि।।2.46.2।।

Transliteration

iyam adya niśā pūrvā saumitre prahitā vanam | vana-vāsasya bhadraṁ te sa notkaṇṭhitum arhasi ||2.46.2||

Translation

苏密特利啊，今日是我们被遣往森林、开始林居流放后的第一夜；愿你安好——不应沉溺于思慕与忧苦。

Word by Word

• iyam: this
• iyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-avyaya (today)

• niśā: night
• niśā: Apposition to iyam (samānādhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• pūrvā: first/earlier
• pūrvā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); agrees with niśā

• saumitre: O Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• saumitre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• prahitā: sent
• prahitā: Predicate participle (vidheya)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√hi (धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle) feminine nominative singular; 'sent/commissioned' (agreeing with niśā as 'night (is) sent')

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Gati-karma (गतिकर्म/goal) with prahitā
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• vana-vāsasya: of forest-dwelling (exile)
• vana-vāsasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular); samāsa: vane vāsaḥ (dwelling in the forest)

• bhadram: well-being/good fortune
• bhadram: Āśīḥ (आशीः/benediction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc) Ekavacana; used as benedictive expression (āśīḥ)

• te: to you/for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th) or Caturthī (Dative/4th) Ekavacana; here dative sense 'to you/for you'

• saḥ: you (that one)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) of arhasi
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); refers to Lakṣmaṇa ('you')

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• utkaṇṭhitum: to feel longing/anxiety
• utkaṇṭhitum: Karma (कर्म) of arhasi (what you ought not to do)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut√kaṇṭh (धातु)
• Form: Tumun (infinitive) indeclinable; 'to long for/to be anxious'

• arhasi: ought/should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

Context

O Lakshmana, this happens to be the first night of our exile. You should not have any longing in your mind. Wish you well!

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana (Saumitri)
• forest (vana)
• exile (vanavāsa)

FAQs

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

Dharma as endurance with clarity: Rama counsels Lakshmana to meet exile without inner agitation, showing that righteous conduct includes mastery over grief and longing.

What is the narrative situation?

During the first night of exile, Rama addresses Lakshmana, preparing him mentally for forest-life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness (dhairya): Rama’s guidance emphasizes emotional discipline in adversity.