Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 21

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

कालिन्दी मथ सीता तु याचमाना कृताञ्जलिः।तीरमेवाभिसम्प्राप्ता दक्षिणं वरवर्णिनी।।।।

Transliteration

kālindīṃ atha sītā tu yācamānā kṛtāñjaliḥ | tīram evābhisamprāptā dakṣiṇaṃ varavarṇinī ||

Translation

So erreichte Sītā, von schöner heller Anmut, noch immer mit gefalteten Händen zur heiligen Kāliṇdī betend, das südliche Ufer.

Word by Word

• कालिन्दीम्: the Kālin̄dī (Yamunā)
• कालिन्दीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समयान्तरबोधक (conjunctive adverb: then/thereupon)

• सीता: Sītā
• सीता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/but)

• याचमाना: requesting/supplicating
• याचमाना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle active); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with implied feminine? here text has कृताञ्जलिः; treated as adjective ‘with folded hands’); तत्पुरुषः (कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्याः)

• तीरम्: bank/shore
• तीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle: just/only)

• अभिसम्प्राप्ता: having reached
• अभिसम्प्राप्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दक्षिणम्: southern
• दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying तीरम्)

• वर-वर्णिनी: the fair-complexioned lady
• वर-वर्णिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर + वर्णिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वरः वर्णः यस्याः)

Context

On reaching the middle of the river Yamuna, Sita made reverential salutations to her saying O goddess, I am crossing you, may safety be ours and may my husband fulfil his vow After Rama's (safe) return to the city (of Ayodhya) ruled by the Ikshvaku kings, I shall worship you with a thousand cows and a hundred pots of wine.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Kāliṇdī (Yamunā)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as humility and reverence toward sacred nature (the river as a deity), aligning action (crossing) with respectful prayer.

What is the narrative situation?

After offering supplication to the Yamunā, Sītā and the party arrive at the southern bank.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility (vinaya) and devotional mindfulness while undertaking a difficult journey.