Shloka 29

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

गच्छतोऽस्तु तयोर्मध्ये बभूव जनकात्मजा।मातङ्गयोर्मध्यगता शुभा नागवधूरिव।।।।

Transliteration

gacchato 'stu tayor madhye babhūva janakātmajā | mātaṅgayor madhyagatā śubhā nāgavadhūr iva ||

Translation

Ketika mereka berjalan, puteri Janaka berada di tengah-tengah mereka berdua—penuh berkat, bagaikan gajah betina mulia di antara dua gajah jantan.

Word by Word

• गच्छतोः: of the two who were going / while the two were going
• गच्छतोः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative context)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (Gen./Loc. dual)

• अस्तु: was/let it be (expletive/particle-like)
• अस्तु: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive usage), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sītā)
• जनकात्मजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जनकस्य आत्मजा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine nominative singular)

• मातङ्गयोः: of the two elephants
• मातङ्गयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• मध्यगता: gone/placed in the middle
• मध्यगता: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य + गत (गम्-धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (मध्ये गता); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नागवधूः: a female elephant
• नागवधूः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नागस्य वधूः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

The daughter of Janaka walked between them like a she-elephant between two males.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Janaka
• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed as protective propriety (maryādā): Sītā’s placement between the brothers symbolizes safeguarding her honor and safety during travel.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative describes their walking formation in the forest: Sītā proceeds between Rama and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The brothers’ protective vigilance and Sītā’s auspicious dignity amid hardship.