Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 50, Shloka 13
गङ्गादर्शनम् तथा गुहसमागमः
Vision of the Gaṅgā and Meeting with Guha
आश्रमैरविदूरस्थैः श्रीमद्भिस्समलङ्कृताम्।कालेऽप्सरोभिर्हृष्टाभि स्सेविताम्भोह्रदां शिवाम्।।2.50.13।।
āśramair avidūra-sthaiḥ śrīmadbhis samalaṅkṛtām |
kāle ’psarobhir hṛṣṭābhis sevitām ambho-hradāṁ śivām || 2.50.13 ||
Gaṅgā yang membawa keberkahan itu dihiasi oleh āśrama-āśrama mulia yang berdiri tidak jauh dari tepinya; pada waktu-waktu tertentu ia pun dikunjungi para apsarā yang bersukacita, yang bermain di danau-danau airnya yang jernih.
Since this river flows through heavens for the gods, it is well-known as 'Devapadmini' where celestial lotuses grow. The river embraces hundreds of hills serving as sporting places and pleasure-gardens for gods.
FAQs
The verse links sacred nature with dharma: hermitages (tapas and restraint) harmonize with the river’s purity, making the landscape itself a support for righteous living.
During the journey, the Gaṅgā is described as a sanctified riverbank region, close to hermitages and visited even by celestial beings.
Indirectly, reverence for sacred places and the ascetic ideal—values that shape Rāma’s dhārmic journey.