Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 95, Shloka 18
मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्
The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa
इमांहि रम्यां मृगयूथशालिनीं निपीततोयां गजसिंहवानरैः।सुपुष्पितां पुष्पभरैरलङ्कृतां नसोऽस्ति य स्स्यान्न गतक्लम स्सुखी।।।।
imāṃ hi ramyāṃ mṛgayūthaśālinīṃ nipītatoyāṃ gajasiṃhavānaraiḥ | supuṣpitāṃ puṣpabharair alaṅkṛtāṃ na so 'sti yaḥ syān na gataklamaḥ sukhī ||
このマンダーキニーはなんと麗しいことか。鹿の群れに満ち、その水は象・獅子・猿たちに飲まれ、咲き誇る木々から散り落ちた花の重なりで飾られている。これを見て、疲れが消え、喜びに満たされぬ者があろうか。
Rama, the perpetuator of the Raghu dynasty, describing the river Mandakini at length appropriately in this manner, wandered in the company of his beloved consort on mount Chitrakuta looking black like collyrium.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcanavatitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the ninetyfifth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Dharma here is mental poise: by appreciating what is pure and life-giving, one overcomes fatigue and grief without violating truth or duty.
Rāma praises the Mandākinī’s beauty and abundance, suggesting that such a place naturally restores the spirit of those living in exile.
Optimism rooted in discipline—Rāma’s ability to draw strength from the environment and guide Sītā toward the same.