Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 11

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Setting: Gomatī river crossing (near its sea-ward course)Places named: Gomatī, sāgara (sea, as direction/terminus)Major river crossing after long travel

Devanagari script

गत्वा तु सुचिरं कालं ततः शीतजलां नदीम् ।

गोमतीं गोयुतानूपामतरत्सागरङ्गमाम् ॥११॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.49.11

Transliteration

gatvā tu suciraṁ kālaṁ tataḥ śītajalāṁ nadīm |

gomatiṁ goyutānūpām atarat sāgaraṅgamām ||11||

Translation

وبعد أن قطع زمنًا طويلًا في السفر، عبر نهرَ غوماتي ذي المياه الباردة، ذي المروج المستنقعية الغنية بالماشية، عند الموضع الذي يمضي فيه جارياً نحو البحر.

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Word by Word

• गत्वा: having travelled
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); ‘गत्वा’ = having gone/travelled
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)

• तु: then/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)
• Role: Discourse particle (निपात)

• सुचिरम्: very long
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) कालम्
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)

• कालम्: time/period
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (extent of time)
• Role: Kalam (काल-अधिकरण)

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (thereafter)
• Role: Sequence marker (क्रम)

• शीतजलाम्: cool-watered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) नदीम्; कर्मधारयः: शीतं जलं यस्याः सा (cool-watered)
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• नदीम्: river
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• गोमतीम्: Gomatī
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; नदी-नाम (proper name)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• गोयुतानूपाम्: with cow-filled marshes
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो + युत + अनूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण नदीम्/गोमतीम्; तत्पुरुषः: गोभिः युतानि अनूपानि यस्याः (having marshes frequented by cows)
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अतरत्: crossed
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सागरङ्गमाम्: sea-going (flowing into the sea)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर + गम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण नदीम्/गोमतीम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: सागरं गच्छति या (flowing to the sea)
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• गोयुतानूपामतरत्सागरङ्गमाम् → गोयुतानूपाम् + अतरत् + सागरङ्गमाम्

Context

Travelling for a long time along the river Gomati full of cool waters on whose marshy bank cows grazed, Rama crossed it at the point where it flows into the sea.

The teaching

Life’s stages are crossed like rivers—steadily, without losing direction toward the greater goal.

Ethical theme

Yātrā-dharma (conduct in journey)

For your practice

Tīrtha-bhāvanā: cultivate reverence for crossings and transitions; use them as moments of recollection and resolve.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Cool, expansive, transitional

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Journey
• Geography
• Maryada

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Gomatī (river)
• sea (sāgara)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is perseverance with order: Rama continues his rightful course without abandoning discipline, moving steadily through the land despite exile-like hardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama proceeds on the road and crosses the river Gomati near the point where it flows toward the sea.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance and steadiness—he keeps moving forward, unbroken by fatigue or uncertainty.