Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 86: Guha Relates Rāma’s Pastimes on the Bank of Gaṅgā
Text 2.86.10
कथं दाशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया।
शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा॥
kathaṁ dāśarathau bhūmau śayāne saha sītayā
śakyā nidrā mayā labdhuṁ jīvitaṁ vā sukhāni vā
katham = how; dāśarathau = when the son of Daśaratha; bhūmau = on the earth; śayāne = is lying; saha sītayā = with Sītā-devī; śakyā = can; nidrā = sleep; mayā = I; labdhum = attain; jīvitam vā = life; sukhāni = happiness; vā = or.
When the son of Daśaratha is lying on the earth with Sītā-devī, how can I attain sleep, life or happiness?
NOTE. This verse reveals the pure devotional service attitude of Lord Lakṣmaṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda characterizes pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in his purport to Bhagavad-gītā (7.16):
Pure devotional service is without aspiration and without desire for material profit. The Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.11) defines pure devotion thus:
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
“One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.”