Shloka 2.95.19
मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम् (The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa)
इतीव रामो बहुसङ्गतं वचः प्रियासहाय स्सरितं प्रति ब्रुवन्।चचार रम्यं नयनाञ्जनप्रभं स चित्रकूटं रघुवंशवर्धनः।।।।
imāṃ hi ramyāṃ mṛgayūthaśālinīṃ nipītatoyāṃ gajasiṃhavānaraiḥ | supuṣpitāṃ puṣpabharair alaṅkṛtāṃ na so 'sti yaḥ syān na gataklamaḥ sukhī ||
How enchanting is this Mandākinī—filled with herds of deer; her waters are drunk by elephants, lions, and monkeys; adorned with heaps of fallen blossoms from trees in full bloom. Who could behold her and not grow joyful, with weariness dispelled?
Rama, the perpetuator of the Raghu dynasty, describing the river Mandakini at length appropriately in this manner, wandered in the company of his beloved consort on mount Chitrakuta looking black like collyrium.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcanavatitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the ninetyfifth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
Dharma here is mental poise: by appreciating what is pure and life-giving, one overcomes fatigue and grief without violating truth or duty.
Rāma praises the Mandākinī’s beauty and abundance, suggesting that such a place naturally restores the spirit of those living in exile.
Optimism rooted in discipline—Rāma’s ability to draw strength from the environment and guide Sītā toward the same.