Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 12

एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address

Setting: Syandikā river crossingPlaces named: Gomatī, SyandikāContinuing onward after Gomati; successive river ford

Devanagari script

गोमतीं चाप्यतिक्रम्य राघवः शीघ्रगैर्हयैः ।

मयूरहंसाभिरुतां ततार स्यन्दिकां नदीम् ॥१२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.49.12

Transliteration

gomatīṁ cāpy atikramya rāghavaḥ śīghragair hayaiḥ |

mayūra-haṁsābhirutāṁ tatāra syandikāṁ nadīm ||12||

Translation

Sesudah menyeberangi Gomati, Rāghava, dibawa oleh kuda-kuda yang cepat, menyeberangi pula sungai Syandikā yang bergema oleh seruan merak dan angsa.

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Word by Word

• गोमतीम्: Gomatī (river)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)
• Role: Connector (समुच्चय)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक-निपात (also/even)
• Role: Emphasis/Addition (निपात)

• अतिक्रम्य: having crossed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); ‘अतिक्रम्य’ = having crossed/overstepped
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)

• राघवः: Rāghava (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• शीघ्रगैः: with swift-going
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्रग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental); बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) हयैः; कर्मधारयः: शीघ्रं गच्छन्ति ये (swift-going)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• हयैः: horses
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• मयूरहंसाभिरुताम्: resounding with peacocks and swans
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर + हंस + अभिरुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण नदीम्; तत्पुरुषः: मयूरहंसैः अभिरुता (resounding with peacocks and swans)
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ततार: crossed
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• स्यन्दिकाम्: Syandikā
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; नदी-नाम (proper name)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• नदीम्: river
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• चाप्यतिक्रम्य → च + अपि + अतिक्रम्य
• शीघ्रगैर्हयैः → शीघ्रगैः + हयैः
• मयूरहंसाभिरुताम् समासः: मयूर-हंस-सम्बन्धः

Context

Gomati gone, Rama with the swift-moving horses crossed the river Syandika echoing with the cries of peacocks and swans.

The teaching

Let the mind take auspiciousness from nature’s harmony while continuing steadfastly on one’s path.

Ethical theme

Sādhāraṇa-dharma (steadfastness, attentiveness)

For your practice

Use natural soundscapes as supports for smṛti and calm attention during travel and change.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Resonant, fresh, forward-moving

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Journey
• Nature Imagery
• Maryada

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Gomatī (river)
• peacocks (mayūra)
• swans (haṁsa)
• horses (haya)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as purposeful movement: Rama does not wander aimlessly but advances with resolve, while the text frames his journey within a harmonious natural world.

What is the narrative situation?

After Gomati, Rama crosses another river, Syandikā, accompanied by vivid sounds of birds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and calm—he continues decisively, undistracted yet receptive to the world around him.