Canto 1: Bāla-kāṇḍa (Boyhood)Chapter 18: The Advent of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and ŚatrughnaText 1.18.32
Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 18: The Advent of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna
Text 1.18.32
न च तेन विना निद्रां लभते पुरुषोत्तमः।
मृष्टमन्नमुपानीतमश्नाति न हि तं विना॥
na ca tena vinā nidrāṁ labhate puruṣottamaḥ
mṛṣṭam annam upānītam aśnāti na hi taṁ vinā
na ca = not; tena vinā = in Lakṣmaṇa’s absence; nidrām labhate = did go to sleep; puruṣa-uttamaḥ = the Supreme Person; mṛṣṭam = sweet; annam = rice; upānītam = brought by Kausalyā; aśnāti = He did eat; na hi = not; tam = of Lakṣmaṇa; vinā = in the absence.
The Supreme Person did not go to sleep in Lakṣmaṇa’s absence. In the absence of Lakṣmaṇa, He did not eat sweet rice brought by Kausalyā.
Lord Rāma’s affection for Lakṣmaṇa is revealed here. Without the life-air in the body, how can one go to sleep? Similarly, without Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma did not go to sleep. Without one’s right hand, how can one eat? Similarly, Rāma could not eat without Lakṣmaṇa.