Valmiki Ramayana 2.50.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 50, Shloka 22

गङ्गादर्शनम् तथा गुहसमागमः

Vision of the Gaṅgā and Meeting with Guha

Devanagari script

व्यपेतमलसङ्घातां मणिनिर्मलदर्शनाम्।दिशागजैर्वनगजै र्मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः।।2.50.22।।देवोपवाह्यैश्च मुहुस्सन्नादितवनान्तराम्।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.50.22

Transliteration

vyapeta-mala-saṅghātāṃ maṇi-nirmala-darśanām |

diśā-gajair vana-gajair mattaiś ca vara-vāraṇaiḥ ||2.50.22||

devopavāhyaiś ca muhuḥ sannādita-vanāntarām |

Translation

Von Ansammlungen der Unreinheit befreit, erschien sie klar wie ein makelloser Edelstein; und die Waldtiefen an ihren Ufern hallten immer wieder wider vom Trompeten vortrefflicher, vom Rausch der Brunft ergriffener Elefanten — Waldelefanten und mächtige Richtungs-Elefanten, würdig, die Götter zu tragen.

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Word by Word

• व्यपेत-मल-सङ्घाताम्: with heaps of impurities removed
• व्यपेत-मल-सङ्घाताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यपेत (कृदन्त; √इ/√अप-इ धातु) + मल (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त) ‘व्यपेत’ = ‘gone away/removed’; ‘मलसङ्घात’ = ‘heap of impurities’

• मणि-निर्मल-दर्शनाम्: having a gem-clear look
• मणि-निर्मल-दर्शनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘मणिवत् निर्मलं दर्शनं यस्याः’ = ‘having gem-like clear appearance’

• दिशा-गजैः: by the elephants of the quarters
• दिशा-गजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिशा (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘दिशां गजाः’ = ‘elephants of the quarters’

• वन-गजैः: by wild elephants
• वन-गजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; ‘वने गजाः’ = ‘wild elephants’

• मत्तैः: by intoxicated (ones)
• मत्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘intoxicated’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• वर-वारणैः: by excellent elephants
• वर-वारणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय ‘वराः वारणाः’ = ‘excellent elephants’

• देव-उपवाह्यैः: by those fit to bear the gods
• देव-उपवाह्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवाह्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √वह् धातु, यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘देवानाम् उपवाह्याः’ = ‘fit to carry gods’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (frequency adverb: ‘repeatedly’)

• सन्नादित-वन-अन्तराम्: whose forest-interior was resounding
• सन्नादित-वन-अन्तराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्नादित (कृदन्त; √नद् धातु, caus./णिच्) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त) ‘resounded’; ‘वनान्तर’ = forest-interior

Context

The river, cleansed of heaps of impurities, appears like a transparent gem. The interiors of forests on her banks always resounds with the trumpeting of mighty, intoxicated, wild elephants guarding the quarters, fit to be the vehicles of gods.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Diśāgaja (guardian elephants)
• Devas

FAQs

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

Dharma as inner purity and awe: the river’s clarity symbolizes moral clarity, while the elephants’ power evokes respectful caution toward what is sacred and strong.

What is the narrative situation?

The poem describes the Gaṅgā’s purity and the vibrant, powerful wildlife in the forests bordering her.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śraddhā (reverent regard) paired with viveka (discernment) in approaching sacred, powerful environments.