Valmiki Ramayana 2.50.29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 50, Shloka 29

गङ्गादर्शनम् तथा गुहसमागमः

Vision of the Gaṅgā and Meeting with Guha

Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: At/near the Gaṅgā, preparing to behold her as the foremost riverPlaces named: GaṅgāHalt by the river prior to further travel/crossing

Devanagari script

द्रक्ष्याम स्सरितां श्रेष्ठां सम्मान्यसलिलां शिवाम् ।

देवदानवगन्धर्वमृगमानुषपक्षिणाम् ॥२९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.50.29

Transliteration

drakṣyāmaḥ saritāṃ śreṣṭhāṃ sammānyasalilāṃ śivām |

devadānavagandharvamṛgamānuṣapakṣiṇām ||29||

Translation

राम ने कहा कि अब हम गंगा को देखेंगे। यह नदियों में सबसे बड़ी है। इसका पानी भगवान लोगों के लिए बहुत इंपॉर्टेंट है। देवता, दानव, गंधर्व सब इसकी इज्जत करते हैं। जानवर, इंसान और चिड़िया भी यहां आते हैं।

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Word by Word

• द्रक्ष्यामः: we shall see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सरिताम्: of rivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; 'of rivers/among rivers' (genitive of comparison)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• श्रेष्ठाम्: the best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; superlative adjective qualifying (नदीम्/सरितम् implied)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सम्मान्य-सलिलाम्: with revered waters
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्मान्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'having venerable/holy waters'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शिवाम्: auspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'auspicious'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• देव-दानव-गन्धर्व-मृग-मानुष-पक्षिणाम्: of gods, demons, gandharvas, beasts, men, and birds
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + मानुष (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर) 'of devas, danavas, gandharvas, beasts, men, and birds'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Dvandva

Sandhi Notes

• द्रक्ष्याम स्सरिताम् = द्रक्ष्यामः + सरिताम्
• देवदानव... = देव + दानव + गन्धर्व + मृग + मानुष + पक्षिणाम् (dvandva)

Context

We shall watch Ganga, the best among rivers, whose holy waters are respected by gods, demons, gandharvas, beasts, serpents, men and birds alike.

The teaching

What is truly auspicious becomes a shared refuge: reverence for the sacred can unite even opposed beings.

Ethical theme

Tīrtha-dharma (sanctity and universal access)

Devotion and practice

Contemplation of Gaṅgā as śivā and sarva-vandya supports bhakti and inner purification; suitable for tīrtha-smaraṇa practice.

Deity praised

Gaṅgā

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Universal, auspicious, uplifting

Themes

• Dharma
• Sacred waters
• Universal reverence
• Itihasa
• Satya (truth-kept exile, implied)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā (implied as ‘best of rivers’ in context)
• devas
• dānavas
• gandharvas
• animals
• humans
• birds

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring what is sacred and purifying: the verse frames holy waters as universally revered, encouraging humility and reverence across beings.

What is the narrative situation?

While camping near the Gaṅgā, Rāma reflects on the river’s sanctity and universal esteem.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and spiritual awareness: Rāma recognizes sanctity in nature even amid hardship.