Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 13

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

अथाऽसाद्य तु कालिन्दीं शीघ्रस्रोतोवहां नदीम्।चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे नदीजलतितीर्षवः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.55.13

Transliteration

athāsādya tu kālindīṃ śīghra-srotovahāṃ nadīm |

cintām āpedire sarve nadī-jala-titīrṣavaḥ ||

Translation

ನಂತರ ವೇಗವಾಗಿ ಹರಿಯುವ ಕಾಲಿಂದೀ ನದಿಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿದಾಗ, ಅದರ ನೀರನ್ನು ದಾಟಲು ಬಯಸಿದ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಚಿಂತನೆಗೆ ಒಳಗಾದರು.

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Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction) ‘then/thereafter’

• आसाद्य: having reached
• आसाद्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund) ‘having reached’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) contrast/emphasis

• कालिन्दीम्: Kalindi
• कालिन्दीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शीघ्रस्रोतोवहाम्: swift-flowing
• शीघ्रस्रोतोवहाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र + स्रोतस् + वह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शीघ्रं स्रोतः वहति या) ‘carrying swift current’

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

• चिन्ताम्: anxiety
• चिन्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आपेदिरे: fell into; experienced
• आपेदिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नदीजलतितीर्षवः: wishing to cross the river
• नदीजलतितीर्षवः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नदी + जल + तितीर्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषसमासः (नदीजलम् तितीर्षवः) ‘desiring to cross the river-water’

Context

Thereafter, they all reached the rapidly flowing river Kalindi and began pondering how to cross it.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Kālindī (Yamunā)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes practical discernment (viveka): before acting, they assess danger and plan a safe crossing rather than rushing into risk.

What is the narrative situation?

They arrive at the fast-flowing Yamunā and consider how to cross.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and responsibility—careful decision-making in the face of natural obstacles.