Valmiki Ramayana 2.89.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 17

गङ्गातरणम्

Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga

Devanagari script

नारीणामभिपूर्णा स्तु काश्चित् काश्चिच्च वाजिनाम्।काश्चिदत्र वहन्ति स्म यानयुग्यं महाधनम्।।।।

Transliteration

nārīṇām abhipūrṇāḥ tu kāścit kāścic ca vājinām | kāścid atra vahanti sma yānayugyaṃ mahādhanam ||

Translation

ചില നൗകകൾ സ്ത്രീകളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു; ചിലത് കുതിരകളാൽ; ഇവിടെ ചില നൗകകൾ വാഹനങ്ങൾക്ക് യോജിപ്പിക്കുന്ന യുക്തിപശുക്കളെയും മഹാധനസമ്പത്തെയും വഹിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• ताः: those (boats)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; refers to boats

• स्म: (past marker)
• स्म: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: भूतार्थे स्म-निपात (past marker)

• गत्वा: having gone/reached
• गत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• परम्: other, farther
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying तीरम्

• तीरम्: bank (of river)
• तीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवरोप्य: having disembarked (them)
• अवरोप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (Gerund) with ya-form (ल्यप्): ‘having disembarked/caused to get down’

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

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; refers to जनम्

• जनम्: people
• जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निवृत्ताः: having returned
• निवृत्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agreeing with ताः (boats): ‘returned’

• काण्ड-चित्राणि: varied displays/figures
• काण्ड-चित्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘variegated/beautiful feats with poles/oars’ (contextual)

• क्रियन्ते: were performed
• क्रियन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘are done’

• दाश-बन्धुभिः: by the fisherfolk
• दाश-बन्धुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाश (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘kinsmen of fishermen’ = fisherfolk

Context

Some boats were filled with women, some others with horses. while still otherstransported draught animals for drawing carriages and the great treasures.

Characters & Entities

• women
• horses
• boats

FAQs

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

Dharma is protection and stewardship: dependents (women), valuable animals, and communal wealth are transported carefully, indicating duty toward people and property.

What is the narrative situation?

The crossing is organized by categories of passengers and cargo to ensure efficiency and safety.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom and caretaking—ensuring vulnerable persons and essential resources are managed responsibly.