Valmiki Ramayana 2.103.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103, Shloka 2

पिण्डदानदर्शनम्

The Queens Behold Rama’s Śrāddha Offering

Devanagari script

राजपत्न्यश्च गच्छन्त्यो मन्दं मन्दाकिनीं प्रति।ददृशु स्तत्र तत् तीर्थं रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम्।।2.103.2।।

Transliteration

rājapatnyaś ca gacchantyo mandaṃ mandākinīṃ prati | dadṛśus tatra tat tīrthaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇasevitam ||

Translation

ರಾಜಪತ್ನಿಯರು ಮಂದಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಂದಾಕಿನಿಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಮಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣರು ಸೇವಿಸಿದ ಆ ತೀರ್ಥಸ್ಥಳವನ್ನು ಕಂಡರು.

Word by Word

• राजपत्न्यः: the king's wives
• राजपत्न्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: also/and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• गच्छन्त्यः: going/proceeding
• गच्छन्त्यः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; कर्तरि (agreeing with राजपत्न्यः)

• मन्दम्: slowly
• मन्दम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): ‘slowly’

• मन्दाकिनीम्: Mandākinī (river)
• मन्दाकिनीम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal with प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नदी-नाम (proper noun)

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Pratiyogi/Direction (दिशा/Direction marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/पूर्वसर्गसदृशः, दिशार्थक (preposition: ‘towards’)

• ददृशुः: saw/beheld
• ददृशुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies तीर्थम्)

• तीर्थम्: ford/sacred bathing place
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम्: frequented/served by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम-लक्ष्मण-सेवित (प्रातिपदिक; components: राम + लक्ष्मण + सेवित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (सेव् धातोः), विशेषण (qualifies तीर्थम्)

Context

The wives of the king while proceeding slowly towards the river Mandakini beheld the bathing place frequented by Rama and Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Mandākinī (river)
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• tīrtha (bathing-place/ford)

FAQs

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

It frames the forest life in terms of disciplined living near tīrthas: dharma in exile is maintained through purity, restraint, and sanctified routine rather than royal privilege.

What is the narrative situation?

The queens approach the Mandākinī area and notice a bathing-place associated with Rama and Lakshmana’s daily practices.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama and Lakshmana’s orderly, sāttvika life in exile—suggested by their regular use of a tīrtha.