Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 52: Rāma Crosses the Gaṅgā on Guha’s Boat
Text 2.52.51
त्वत्कृते न मयावाप्तं रथचर्याकृतं सुखम्।
आशंसे त्वत्कृतेनाहं वनवासकृतं सुखम्॥
tvat-kṛte na mayāvāptaṁ ratha-caryā-kṛtaṁ sukham
āśaṁse tvat-kṛtenāhaṁ vana-vāsa-kṛtaṁ sukham
tvat-kṛte = because of You; na = not; mayā = I; avāptam = have attained; ratha-caryā-kṛtam = of driving a chariot for You; sukham = the happiness; āśaṁse = still desire; tvat-kṛtena = by assisting You; aham = I; vana-vāsa-kṛtam = of residing in the forest; sukham = the happiness.
Because of You I have not attained the happiness of driving a chariot for You. Still I desire the happiness of residing in the forest by assisting You.
Unfortunately Sumantra did not attain the happiness of driving Rāma’s chariot after He was coronated as the crown prince. Nevertheless, he wanted the happiness of assisting Rāma in the forest as His charioteer.
This verse also means, “By Your favor I have attained the happiness of driving the chariot. Similarly, by Your favor I desire the happiness of residing in the forest.”