Valmiki Ramayana 2.89.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 18
गङ्गातरणम् · Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga
Setting: RiverArrival at far bank; boats return for further ferrying
ता स्स्म गत्वा परं तीरमवरोप्य च तं जनम् ।
निवृत्ताः काण्डचित्राणि क्रियन्ते दाशबन्धुभिः ॥१८॥
tāḥ sma gatvā paraṃ tīram avaropya ca taṃ janam |
nivṛttāḥ kāṇḍacitrāṇi kriyante dāśabandhubhiḥ ||18||
ആ നൗകകൾ അപ്പുറത്തീരത്ത് എത്തി ജനങ്ങളെ ഇറക്കിവെച്ച് പിന്നെ മടങ്ങി വന്നു; ദാശബന്ധുക്കൾ നൗകകളാൽ നൈപുണ്യമാർന്ന വളവുകളും വിവിധ രൂപങ്ങളിലെ പാറ്റേണുകളും കാട്ടി പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ചു.
Sandhi Notes
- 'ताः स्म' sometimes written with doubled s in manuscripts (tā ssma)
Having reached the other bank, the men disembarked. While returning, the fisherfolk exhibited their craft of lovely formations.
The teaching
Excellence in one’s craft (svadharma) can serve the many; skill joined to service becomes beauty.
- Ethical theme
- Svadharma (right livelihood and duty)
For your practice
Contemplation on ‘reaching the far shore’ and then returning to help others—seva as a fruit of inner progress.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Relieved, skillful, graceful
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Skill
- Community service
Reaching the ‘far shore’ (pāra) is a classic liberation metaphor; the boats returning suggests compassionate recurrence—those who know the way help others cross.
Pāra/pāram imagery aligns with ‘pāraṃ gataḥ’ motifs—crossing beyond; also the idea of the knower aiding others resonates with the teacher-disciple transmission ethos.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.89.16 (boats depart swiftly)
‘Far shore’ liberation metaphor widespread in later bhakti and Vedānta literature; also seen in Buddhist/Pāli idiom though here within Itihāsa narrative
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated river-crossing logistics during Bharata’s expedition
Anuṣṭup (Śloka)
Narrative
Madhyama (settling cadence with a flourish on the ‘skill’ phrase)
FAQs
Dharma includes excellence in one’s craft used for others’ benefit—skill becomes a form of service when applied to safe transport and orderly return.
After dropping passengers on the far bank, the boatmen turn back and demonstrate confident control of their boats.
The boatmen’s mastery and disciplined coordination.
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