Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 52: Rāma Crosses the Gaṅgā on Guha’s Boat
Text 2.52.13
ततोऽब्रवीद्दाशरथिः सुमत्रं स्पृशन्करेणोत्तम दक्षिणेन।
सुमत्र शीघ्रं पुनरेव याहि राज्ञः सकाशे भव चाप्रमत्तः॥
tato ’bravīd dāśarathiḥ sumantraṁ
spṛśan kareṇottama dakṣiṇena
sumantra śīghraṁ punar eva yāhi
rājñaḥ sakāśe bhava cāpramattaḥ
tataḥ = then; abravīt = said; dāśarathiḥ = Dāśarathi; sumantra = Sumantra; spṛśan = touched and; kareṇa = hand; uttama = good; dakṣiṇena = with His right; sumantram = Sumantra; śīghram = quickly; punaḥ eva yāhi = return; rājñaḥ sakāśe = to the king; bhava ca apramattaḥ = don’t be inattentive.
Then Dāśarathi touched Sumantra with His right hand and said: “Good Sumantra, quickly return to the king. Don’t be inattentive.”
This is a general statement. In the next verse, Rāma presents the reasons for having said this.