Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 56

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

वनवासे क्षयं प्राप्ते ममैष हि मनोरथः।यदनेन रथेनैव त्वां वहेयं पुरीं पुनः।।2.52.56।।

Transliteration

vanavāse kṣayaṃ prāpte mamaiṣa hi manorathaḥ |

yad anena rathenaiva tvāṃ vaheyaṃ purīṃ punaḥ ||2.52.56||

Translation

这是我心中最珍爱的愿望：待你林中流放期满之时，愿我仍乘此车，将你再度迎回王城。

Word by Word

• vana-vāse: in the forest-stay
• vana-vāse: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (forest-dwelling); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 7 (सप्तमी), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• kṣayam: end/completion
• kṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• prāpte: having been reached (when attained)
• prāpte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सति-सप्तमी-प्रयोगः (Locative absolute) हेतु/काले; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 7 (सप्तमी), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'kṣaye prāpte' = 'when the end has come'

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 6 (षष्ठी), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• eṣaḥ: this
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• manorathaḥ: desire
• manorathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manoratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (manas + ratha = 'wish'); पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• yat: that (namely)
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative particle introducing clause)

• anena: with this
• anena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• rathena: by chariot
• rathena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (only/indeed)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• vaheyaṃ: I might carry / would take
• vaheyaṃ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु)
• Form: लकारः विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 1, वचनम् एकवचनम्

• purīm: to the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 2 (द्वितीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (again)

Context

It is my cherished desire to take you after the completion of your exile, back to the city (Ayodhya) in this chariot alone.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama
• ratha (chariot)
• vanavāsa (forest exile)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes steadfastness over time: service is not momentary emotion but a long commitment, extending from departure into exile to the rightful return.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra expresses a forward-looking devotion—he wants to be the one who reunites Rama with Ayodhya after the exile ends.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and hope grounded in duty—he imagines fulfilling service across the full arc of Rama’s hardship.