Valmiki Ramayana 2.92.11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 92, Shloka 11

भरद्वाजाश्रमात् चित्रकूटमार्गनिर्देशः · Directions from Bharadvaja’s Hermitage to Chitrakuta

Spoken by Bharadvaja to BharataSetting: Citrakūṭa region (described); northern flankPlaces named: Mandākinī, Citrakūṭa (by reference: ‘its northern side’)Approach guidance to the river-bank near Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

उत्तरं पार्श्वमासाद्य तस्य मन्दाकिनी नदी ।

पुष्पितद्रुमसञ्छन्ना रम्यपुष्पितकानना ॥११॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.92.11

Transliteration

uttaraṃ pārśvam āsādya tasya mandākinī nadī |

puṣpita-druma-sañchannā ramya-puṣpita-kānanā ||11||

Translation

उस पर्वत के उत्तर की तरफ मंदाकिनी नदी है। उसके किनारे फूलों वाले पेड़ों से ढके हैं। फूलों के जंगल वहाँ बहुत अच्छे लगते हैं।

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Word by Word

• उत्तरम्: northern
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; adjective used with पार्श्वम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पार्श्वम्: side
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आसाद्य: having reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having reached/approached’
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• तस्य: of that (place/it)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; masculine/neuter genitive
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• मन्दाकिनी: Mandakini
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• नदी: river
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to मन्दाकिनी
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• पुष्पित-द्रुम-सञ्छन्ना: covered with flowering trees
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्छन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of नदी; समासः—पुष्पिताः द्रुमाः येन/यया सा (द्रुमैः सञ्छन्ना)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• रम्य-पुष्पित-कानना: having lovely blossoming groves
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of नदी; ‘रम्यं च पुष्पितं च काननं यस्याः सा’ (descriptive compound)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• पार्श्वमासाद्य = पार्श्वम् + आसाद्य
• पुष्पितद्रुमसञ्छन्ना = पुष्पित-द्रुम-सञ्छन्ना (sañchannā from सम्+छद्/छद् ‘to cover’, past participle)

Context

On its northern side flows the river Mandakini which is densely covered with flowering trees and lovely blossoming woods (on its banks).

The teaching

Choose environments that nourish purity and steadiness; outer beauty can support inner śānti.

Ethical theme

Right dwelling/place (deśa) for dharma

Devotion and practice

River-bank contemplation supports prāṇāyāma, japa, and mental purification; nature as ālambana for dhyāna.

Deity praised

Mandākinī (tīrtha-devatā / sacred river principle)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Blossoming, fresh, serene

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Sacred geography
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mandākinī
• Citrakūṭa (implied)
• Bharata
• Bharadvāja

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring sacred landscapes: the description frames nature as supportive of righteous living and ascetic virtue.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharadvāja describes the natural landmark (Mandākinī) near Citrakūṭa to guide Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive guidance—careful instruction that helps another fulfill duty without confusion.