Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 52: Rāma Crosses the Gaṅgā on Guha’s Boat
Text 2.52.1
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां पृथुवक्षा महायशाः।
उवाच रामः सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्॥
prabhātāyāṁ tu śarvaryāṁ pṛthu-vakṣā mahā-yaśāḥ
uvāca rāmaḥ saumitriṁ lakṣmaṇaṁ śubha-lakṣaṇam
prabhātāyām tu = turned into dawn; śarvaryām = when the night; pṛthu-vakṣāḥ = the broad-chested; mahā-yaśāḥ = of great fame; uvāca = spoke; rāmaḥ = Rāma; saumitrim = to Sumitrā’s son; lakṣmaṇam = Lakṣmaṇa; śubha-lakṣaṇam = of auspicious characteristics.
When the night turned into dawn, the broad-chested Rāma of great fame spoke to Sumitrā’s son Lakṣmaṇa of auspicious characteristics.
1 Unlike the powerful souls who can transgress dharma and yet not be affected by such transgressions.
Pṛthu-vakṣā (“broad-chested”) indicates that Rāma was greatly enthusiastic [to carry out His duties]. Mahā-yaśāḥ (“of great fame”) indicates that Rāma never transgressed dharma.1 Lakṣmaṇa is referred to as the son of Sumitrā here to indicate that He carried out the following instruction of Sumitrā:
rāmaṁ daśarathaṁ viddhi māṁ viddhi janakātmajām
ayodhyām aṭavīṁ viddhi gaccha tāta yathā-sukham
“Consider Rāma to be King Daśaratha, Jānakī to be me and the forest to be Ayodhyā. Go, my child, in full happiness!” (Rāmāyaṇa 2.40.10)
Śubha-lakṣaṇam (“of auspicious characteristics”) refers to Lakṣmaṇa’s characteristic devotion to Rāma.