Valmiki Ramayana 2.84.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 84, Shloka 8

गुहस्य सन्देहः, गङ्गातीर-रक्षा, भरतस्य सत्कारः

Guha’s Suspicion, Securing the Ganga Bank, and Hospitality to Bharata

Devanagari script

नावां शतानां पञ्चानां कैवर्तानां शतं शतम्।सन्नद्धानां तथा यूनां तिष्ठन्त्वित्यभ्यचोदयत्।।।।

Transliteration

nāvāṃ śatānāṃ pañcānāṃ kaivartānāṃ śataṃ śatam |

sannaddhānāṃ tathā yūnāṃ tiṣṭhantv ity abhyacodayat ||

Translation

Er trieb sie an: „Haltet fünfhundert Boote bereit, und in jedem Boot sollen hundert junge Fischer, voll ausgerüstet, in Bereitschaft stehen.“

Word by Word

• nāvām: of boats
• nāvām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (gen/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• śatānām: of hundreds
• śatānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga (neut/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• pañcānām: of five
• pañcānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana (agreeing with śatānām)

• kaivartānām: of fishermen/boatmen
• kaivartānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaivarta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (here: count ‘a hundred’)

• śatam: each a hundred / hundred by hundred
• śatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana (repetition for distributive sense)

• sannaddhānām: of the fully equipped/armed
• sannaddhānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-nah (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana (qualifying kaivartānām/yūnām)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)

• yūnām: of youths
• yūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• tiṣṭhantu: let (them) stay
• tiṣṭhantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (iti-śabda/उद्धरण-निपात)

• abhyacodayat: he exhorted/urged
• abhyacodayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-cud (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; causative sense ‘to urge’ (प्रेरणार्थ)

Context

Let five hundred boats, each manned by a hundred young fishermen fully equipped, be in readiness he exhorted them.

Characters & Entities

• Guha
• Gaṅgā (implied operational setting)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes preparedness without aggression: resources are readied to prevent wrongdoing and to control a critical passage responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Guha sets a concrete defensive/logistical arrangement—boats and crews—to manage movement across the Gaṅgā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic competence—Guha translates concern into organized, measurable action.