Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 57

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि सहितस्य त्वया वने।क्षणभूतानि यास्यन्ति शतसङ्ख्यान्यतोऽन्यथा।।2.52.57।।

Transliteration

caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi sahitasya tvayā vane |

kṣaṇabhūtāni yāsyanti śatasaṅkhyāny ato 'nyathā ||2.52.57||

Translation

若我与你同在林中，这十四年将如一瞬而过；若不然，它们将仿佛百年般漫长。

Word by Word

• caturdaśa: fourteen
• caturdaśa: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः (catur + daśa = 14) संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत्/विशेषणरूपेण 'varṣāṇi' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• varṣāṇi: years
• varṣāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् बहुवचनम्

• sahitasya: of (one) accompanied
• sahitasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 6 (षष्ठी), वचनम् एकवचनम्; 'मम' (implied) इत्यस्य विशेषणम् = 'of me who is accompanied'

• tvayā: with you
• tvayā: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; विभक्तिः 3 (तृतीया), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 7 (सप्तमी), वचनम् एकवचनम्

• kṣaṇa-bhūtāni: (as if) moment-like
• kṣaṇa-bhūtāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (kṣaṇa-bhūta = 'become a moment'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1 (प्रथमा), वचनम् बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (varṣāṇi)

• yāsyanti: will pass/go
• yāsyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लृट् (Future), परस्मैपदम्; पुरुषः 3, वचनम् बहुवचनम्

• śata-saṅkhyāni: (as) a hundred in number
• śata-saṅkhyāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (śata-saṅkhyā = 'having the count of a hundred'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विभक्तिः 1/2, वचनम् बहुवचनम्; 'varṣāṇi' इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम् (anyathā इत्यनेन)

• ataḥ: otherwise than this / hence
• ataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/तस्मात्-अर्थक-अव्यय (therefore/otherwise than this)

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (otherwise)

Context

If I accompany you into the forest, fourteen years will pass like a moment, otherwise it will seem like a hundred years.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rama
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained through presence and shared hardship: accompanying the righteous in difficulty is portrayed as a meaningful, time-transforming commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra argues emotionally that separation from Rama will make the exile unbearably long, strengthening his plea to accompany him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Affectionate loyalty—his sense of time and suffering is shaped by closeness to the dharmic figure he serves.