Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 3

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Spoken by Rama to LakṣmaṇaSetting: Banks of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) near forested tract outside AyodhyāPlaces named: Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), Sāgara (ocean)Early stage of exile; preparing to cross into deeper forest routes

Devanagari script

बर्हिणानां च निर्घोषः श्रूयते नदतां वने ।

तराम जाह्नवीं सौम्य शीघ्रगां सागरङ्गमाम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.3

Transliteration

barhiṇānāṃ ca nirghoṣaḥ śrūyate nadatāṃ vane |

tarāma jāhnavīṃ saumya śīghragāṃ sāgaraṅgamām ||3||

Translation

森には孔雀の鳴き声が響く。やさしき友よ、海へと急ぎ流れるジャーナヴィー（ガンガー）を渡ろう。

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Word by Word

• बर्हिणानाम्: of peacocks
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)

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

• निर्घोषः: sound/clamor
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• श्रूयते: is heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)

• नदताम्: of (those) crying/roaring
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle): नदत्; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: सम्बन्ध (Genitive—of those crying)

• वने: in the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)

• तराम: let us cross / we shall cross
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)

• जाह्नवीम्: the Jahnavi (Ganga)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object—what is crossed)

• सौम्य: O gentle one / dear (Lakshmana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Vocative), पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन
• Role: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)

• शीघ्रगाम्: swift-flowing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्रग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: शीघ्र + ग (गच्छतीति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; जाह्नवीम् इत्यस्य विशेषण
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object—qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• सागरङ्गमाम्: going to the sea
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर + गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सागरं गच्छतीति; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; जाह्नवीम् इत्यस्य विशेषण
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object—qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Context

Listen to the screams of the peacocks in the forest. The Ganga is flowing fast to merge in the sea. We need to cross it.

The teaching

Nature and sacred geography accompany dharmic journeys; crossing thresholds is undertaken with composure and purpose.

Ethical theme

Yātrā-dharma / tīrtha-sambandha

Devotion and practice

Mindful travel as sādhana; remembrance of tīrthas; cultivating wonder without attachment.

Deity praised

Gaṅgā (as sacred river, implied)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Woodland-vivid, forward-moving, fresh

Themes

• Itihasa
• Journey
• Nature imagery
• Dharma (exile duty)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Peacocks (barhiṇa)
• Forest (vana)
• Jāhnavī/Gaṅgā
• Ocean (sāgara)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as forward-moving commitment to the exile path—continuing the journey without turning back.

What is the narrative situation?

On the forest route, Rāma points out natural sounds and urges crossing the Gaṅgā as part of their progress.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and leadership in hardship—guiding companions calmly through the journey.