Valmiki Ramayana 2.89.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 7

गङ्गातरणम्

Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga

Devanagari script

सुखा न श्शर्वरी राजन् पूजिताश्चापि ते वयम्।गङ्गां तु नौभिर्बह्वीभिर्दाशास्सन्तारयन्तु नः।।।।

Transliteration

sukhā na śśarvarī rājan pūjitāś cāpi te vayam | gaṅgāṃ tu naubhir bahvībhir dāśāḥ santārayantu naḥ ||

Translation

Bharata said: “O king, the night was pleasant for us, and you have indeed honored us. Now let the fishermen and boatmen ferry us across the Gaṅgā with many boats.”

Word by Word

• sukhā: comfortable
• sukhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Ekavacana; predicate adjective of 'śarvarī'

• naḥ: for us / our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen/6th), Bahuvacana (plural)

• śarvarī: the night
• śarvarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarvarī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Ekavacana

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• pūjitāḥ: honoured
• pūjitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Bahuvacana; predicate of 'vayam'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle: 'also'

• te: by you
• te: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Ekavacana

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Prathamā (Nom/1st), Bahuvacana

• gaṅgām: the Ganga
• gaṅgām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• tu: and / indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• naubhiḥ: by boats
• naubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Bahuvacana

• bahvībhiḥ: many
• bahvībhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahvī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Bahuvacana; agrees with 'naubhiḥ'

• dāśāḥ: fishermen
• dāśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāśa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Bahuvacana

• santārayantu: let (them) ferry across
• santārayantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√tṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana; Causative (ṇic): 'let them ferry across'

• naḥ: us
• naḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Bahuvacana

Context

Urged by his brother Bharata, Satrughna replied 'I am not asleep. I am awake. I am deeply thinking of our esteemed brother, Rama'

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guha
• Gaṅgā
• boats

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as gratitude and orderly request: Bharata acknowledges hospitality truthfully and then asks for practical help without arrogance.

What is the narrative situation?

After being hosted overnight, Bharata thanks Guha and requests arrangements to cross the Gaṅgā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s humility and courtesy, even while exercising royal authority.