Shloka 37

शरभङ्गाश्रमगमनम् तथा इन्द्रदर्शनम्

Approach to Sarabhanga’s Hermitage and the Vision of Indra

Devanagari script

इमां मन्दाकिनीं राम प्रतिस्रोतामनुव्रज।नदीं पुष्पोडुपवहां ततस्तत्र गमिष्यसि।।3.5.37।।

Transliteration

imāṃ mandākinīṃ rāma pratisrotām anuvraja | nadīṃ puṣpoḍupavahāṃ tatas tatra gamiṣyasi || 3.5.37 ||

Translation

ഹേ രാമാ, ഈ മന്ദാകിനി നദിയെ പ്രതിസ്രോതസ്സായി അനുഗമിക്കൂ; പുഷ്പങ്ങളും ഒഴുകുന്ന പുഷ്പകണങ്ങളും വഹിക്കുന്ന ഈ സരിതയെ പിന്തുടർന്നാൽ, പിന്നെ നീ ആ സ്ഥലത്തെത്തും.

Word by Word

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; ‘मन्दाकिनीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मन्दाकिनीम्: (the river) Mandākinī
• मन्दाकिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; नदी-नाम

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• प्रतिस्रोताम्: against the current
• प्रतिस्रोताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिस्रोता (प्रातिपदिक: प्रति + स्रोता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (प्रतिस्रोतस् = against the current) ‘मन्दाकिनीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अनुव्रज: follow
• अनुव्रज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नदीम्: river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मन्दाकिनीम्’ इत्यस्य पुनरुक्त-पर्याय (apposition)

• पुष्पोडुपवहाम्: carrying flowers and floats
• पुष्पोडुपवहाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प-उडुप-वह (प्रातिपदिक: पुष्प + उडुप + वह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणि उडुपानि च वहति या) ‘नदीम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (then/from there)

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

• गमिष्यसि: you will go/reach
• गमिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

Proceed, O Rama ! in the reverse direction of the river Mandakini carrying flowers and floats. And you will reach the place.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mandākinī river

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by right guidance and disciplined travel: the hero follows instructed pathways rather than acting impulsively, showing obedience to wise counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

Śarabhaṅga gives route instructions to reach Sutīkṣṇa’s vicinity by tracking the Mandākinī upstream.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s vinaya (humility/teachability): he accepts specific directions from a sage as part of righteous conduct.