Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 14

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

तौ काष्ठसङ्घातमथो चक्रतु स्सुमहाप्लवम्।शुष्कैर्वंशै स्समास्तीर्णमुशीरैश्च समावृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

tau kāṣṭha-saṅghātam atho cakratuḥ su-mahā-plavam |

śuṣkair vaṃśaiḥ samāstīrṇam uśīraiś ca samāvṛtam ||

Translation

പിന്നീട് അവർ രണ്ടുപേരും മരക്കട്ടകൾ കൂട്ടിക്കെട്ടി അതിവലിയൊരു പ്ളവം (തേപ്പ്) ഉണ്ടാക്കി; അതിന്മേൽ ഉണങ്ങിയ മുള വിരിച്ചു, സുഗന്ധമുള്ള ഉശീര പുല്ലിന്റെ വേരുകളാൽ പൊതിഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• काष्ठसङ्घातम्: a log-raft
• काष्ठसङ्घातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ + सङ्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (काष्ठानां सङ्घातः) ‘a mass/raft of logs’

• अथो: then
• अथो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atho (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction) ‘then/and then’

• चक्रतुः: made
• चक्रतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुमहाप्लवम्: a very large float
• सुमहाप्लवम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + महा + प्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुमहान् प्लवः) ‘a very large float’

• शुष्कैः: with dry
• शुष्कैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वंशैः: bamboos
• वंशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• समास्तीर्णम्: well-spread
• समास्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘well-spread/covered’ (qualifying प्लवम्)

• उशीरैः: with usira-roots
• उशीरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; fragrant roots (material)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• समावृतम्: covered
• समावृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered’ (qualifying प्लवम्)

Context

Then they both made a big wooden float by joining logs of wood, spreading bamboos on it and covering it with the (fragrant roots of) Ushira bushes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kālindī (Yamunā)
• plava (float/raft)
• vaṃśa (bamboo)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through responsible action: they solve the problem safely using available resources, prioritizing the well-being of all travelers.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa construct a large raft/float to cross the Yamunā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resourcefulness and teamwork—turning forest materials into a safe means of passage.