Valmiki Ramayana 2.113.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 113, Shloka 3

पादुकाप्रदानं भरतस्य निवृत्तिश्च

The Sandals Bestowed; Bharata’s Return Toward Ayodhya

Setting: Near Citrakūṭa region, approaching MandākinīPlaces named: Mandākinī, CitrakūṭaApproach to Rāma’s forest abode via Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

मन्दाकिनीं नदीं रम्यां प्राङ्मुखास्ते ययुस्तदा ।

प्रदक्षिणं च कुर्वाणाश्चित्रकूटं महागिरिम् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.113.3

Transliteration

mandākinīṃ nadīṃ ramyāṃ prāṅmukhās te yayus tadā |

pradakṣiṇaṃ ca kurvāṇāś citrakūṭaṃ mahāgirim ||3||

Translation

Kemudian, menghadap ke timur, mereka berjalan menuju sungai Mandākinī yang indah, sambil melakukan pradakṣiṇa (tawaf suci) mengelilingi gunung agung Citrakūṭa.

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Word by Word

• पश्यन्: seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; concomitant action)

• धातुसहस्राणि: thousands of minerals
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातु + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘धातूनां सहस्राणि’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• रम्याणि: beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of धातुसहस्राणि
• Role: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)

• विविधानि: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• प्रययौ: went/proceeded
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• तस्य: of it/of that (mountain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• पार्श्वेन: along the side
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; मार्ग/सहचर्ये
• Role: Karana (करण; मार्ग)

• ससैन्यः: with (his) army
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘सैन्येन सह वर्तते’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• भरतः: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)

Sandhi Notes

• पश्यन्धातु- = पश्यन् + धातु-
• ससैन्यो = ससैन्यः (before voiced consonant in some recensions)

Context

All of them circumambulated the mighty mountain Chitrakuta and proceeded easttowards the charming river Mandakini.

The teaching

Even in urgent missions, one may preserve dharma through reverence—orienting oneself to auspicious direction and honoring sacred places.

Ethical theme

Ritual propriety/sadācāra

Devotion and practice

Pradakṣiṇā and mindful orientation as simple daily practices cultivating humility and steadiness.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Reverential, pilgrimage-like, auspicious

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Pilgrimage
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mandākinī
• Citrakūṭa

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverence for sacred places and disciplined conduct: even amid political crisis, they honor holy geography through pradakṣiṇā and purposeful travel.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata’s group continues its route, moving past Citrakūṭa and toward the Mandākinī river.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and restraint—maintaining ritual propriety and respect for sacred spaces.