Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.79 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 79

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

आचम्य च यथाशास्त्रं नदीं तां सह सीतया।प्राणमत्प्रीतिसंहृष्टो लक्ष्मणश्चामितप्रभः।।2.52.79।।

Transliteration

ācamya ca yathāśāstraṃ nadīṃ tāṃ saha sītayā | prāṇamat prītisaṃhṛṣṭo lakṣmaṇaś cāmitaprabhaḥ || 2.52.79 ||

Translation

Nachdem er gemäß der Vorschrift der Śāstras das Ācamana vollzogen hatte, verneigte er sich — zusammen mit Sītā — vor jenem Fluss; und auch Lakṣmaṇa, von unermesslichem Glanz, freudig ergriffen, erwies ehrfürchtige Huldigung.

Word by Word

• आचम्य: having sipped (water)
• आचम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive): ‘having sipped (water)’

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

• यथा-शास्त्रम्: according to the scriptures
• यथा-शास्त्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव: शास्त्रानुसारम् (according to scripture), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नदीम् विशेषयति

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahakari (सहकारी/Companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सह इत्यस्य योगे

• प्राणमत्: bowed, paid obeisance
• प्राणमत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रीति-संहृष्टः: thrilled with joy
• प्रीति-संहृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + संहृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: प्रीत्या संहृष्टः (thrilled with joy), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: also
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• अमित-प्रभः: of boundless splendor
• अमित-प्रभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: अमिता प्रभा यस्य (of immeasurable radiance), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; लक्ष्मणम् विशेषयति

Context

Then Guha with folded palms said to Rama: O king, the boat ready. Tell me what else can I do for you.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Gaṅgā (river; implied by context)

FAQs

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

Maryādā (right conduct): even in exile, the protagonists uphold śāstric discipline and reverence toward sacred nature.

What is the narrative situation?

Before/while crossing the Gaṅgā, the party ritually sips water and offers respectful salutations to the river.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Religious attentiveness and gratitude—honoring the river as sacred support for their journey.