Valmiki Ramayana 2.83.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 21

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

उपेत्य तीरं गङ्गायाश्चक्रवाकैरलङ्कृतम्।व्यवातिष्ठत सा सेना भरतस्यानुयायिनी।।2.83.21।।

Transliteration

upetya tīraṃ gaṅgāyāś cakravākair alaṅkṛtam |

vyavātiṣṭhata sā senā bharatasyānuyāyinī || 2.83.21 ||

Translation

ولما بلغوا ضفةَ الغانغا المزيّنة بطيور التشاكرافاكا، توقّف هناك الجيشُ التابعُ لبهاراتا.

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• rāma-sakhaḥ: Rama's friend
• rāma-sakhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + sakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'रामस्य सखा'

• vīraḥ: valiant
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• guhaḥ: Guha
• guhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jñāti-gaṇaiḥ: with groups of relatives
• jñāti-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)/Sahakārī (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāti (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'ज्ञातीनां गणैः'

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त (past passive participle)

• nivasati: dwells/lives
• nivasati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vas (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• apramādena: with vigilance
• apramādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apramāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/रीतिवाचक (with vigilance)

• deśam: the land/region
• deśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to deśam

• paripālayan: protecting/governing
• paripālayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-pāl (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभाव (while protecting)

Context

After travelling a long distance on chariots, carriages, horses and elephants, they reached the river Ganga close to Srngiberapura, a country ruled vigilantly by Rama's friend, the valiant Guha who lived there along with his relatives.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Gaṅgā
• Cakravāka (ruddy geese)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes prudent pacing and respect for sacred spaces: the army halts at the revered Gaṅgā, reflecting disciplined conduct rather than reckless haste.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata’s followers arrive at the Gaṅgā’s bank and stop there, preparing for the next stage of travel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective restraint and reverence—pausing at a sacred river and maintaining orderly movement.