Valmiki Ramayana 2.95.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 95, Shloka 14

मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

सखीवच्च विगाहस्व सीते मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् ।

कमलान्यवमज्जन्ती पुष्कराणि च भामिनि ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.95.14

Transliteration

sakhīvac ca vigāhasva sīte mandākinīṃ nadīm |

kamalāny avamajjantī puṣkarāṇi ca bhāmini ||14||

Translation

O Sītā, o Holdselige—steige in den Fluss Mandākinī hinab wie zu einer vertrauten Gefährtin; und spielend im Wasser tauche die roten Lotosblüten und die weißen Lotosblüten ein, o Schöne.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• सखीवत्: like a friend
• सखीवत्: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (adverbial ‘like a friend’); वत्-प्रत्ययान्त

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विगाहस्व: enter / bathe
• विगाहस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + गाह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सीते: O Sita
• सीते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

• मन्दाकिनीम्: Mandakini
• मन्दाकिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; मन्दाकिनीम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• कमलानि: lotuses
• कमलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• अवमज्जन्ती: submerging (them)
• अवमज्जन्ती: Kartr̥-sahacara (कर्तृ-सहचर/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि; सीता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पुष्कराणि: white lotuses
• पुष्कराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भामिनि: O lovely lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

Context

O lovely Sita, like a companion plunge into this river Mandakini, submerging the red and white lotuses, and enjoy sporting.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Mandākinī
• kamala (lotus)
• puṣkara (lotus)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes sustaining harmony in hardship: Rāma encourages innocent recreation that preserves emotional balance without abandoning restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma invites Sītā to enjoy the Mandākinī, depicting the river’s lotus-filled beauty to lighten the mood of exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Affectionate care—Rāma actively nurtures Sītā’s comfort and joy.