Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 94

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

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

Devanagari script

अथाब्रवीन्महाबाहुः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनम्।भव संरक्षणार्थाय सजने विजनेऽपि वा।।2.52.94।।

Transliteration

athābravīn mahābāhuḥ sumitrānandavardhanam | bhava saṃrakṣaṇārthāya sajane vijane 'pi vā || 2.52.94 ||

Translation

于是臂力无双的罗摩对增添苏弥特罗欢喜的罗什曼那说道：“为护持当警醒；在人群之中亦然，在荒寂之处亦然。”

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Ārambha-avyaya (आरम्भ/then)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्/Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• mahā-bāhuḥ: the mighty-armed (Rama)
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sumitrā-ānanda-vardhanam: (to) the enhancer of Sumitra's joy (Lakshmana)
• sumitrā-ānanda-vardhanam: Sambodhyam (सम्बोध्य/Person addressed; object of 'said to')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumitrā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'enhancer of Sumitrā's joy' (vocative sense intended though form is accusative as object of speech)

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष/2nd), Ekavacana

• saṅrakṣaṇa-arthāya: for protection
• saṅrakṣaṇa-arthāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Dative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅrakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (चतुर्थी/4th case, dative), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'for the purpose of protection'

• sajane: in a populated place
• sajane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (सप्तमी/7th case, locative), Ekavacana

• vijane: in a lonely place
• vijane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle 'also/even')

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta (विकल्प/ or)

Context

The long-armed Rama then said to Lakshmana, enhancer of the joy of Sumitra: Whether in populated areas or in solitary places, excercise alacrity in the matter of protection.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sumitrā (via epithet)

FAQs

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

Rakṣā-dharma (duty of protection): vigilance is a moral obligation, not dependent on whether danger is visible or whether others are present.

What is the narrative situation?

After disembarking, Rāma directs Lakṣmaṇa to remain vigilant as they enter uncertain terrain.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s prudent leadership—he couples trust in dharma with practical caution.