Valmiki Ramayana 2.93.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 8

चित्रकूटमार्गवर्णनम् · Bharata’s Army Reaches Chitrakuta and Searches for Rama

Spoken by Bharata to VasisthaSetting: CitrakūṭaPlaces named: चित्रकूट, मन्दाकिनीArrival/landmark identification

Devanagari script

अयं गिरिश्चित्रकूट इयं मन्दाकिनी नदी ।

एतत्प्रकाशते दूरान्नीलमेघनिभं वनम् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.93.8

Transliteration

ayaṃ giriś citrakūṭa iyaṃ mandākinī nadī |

etat prakāśate dūrān nīlameghanibhaṃ vanam ||8||

Translation

Inilah Gunung Citrakūṭa, dan inilah sungai Mandākinī; dan dari kejauhan, hutan itu tampak berkilau, laksana awan biru gelap.

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Word by Word

• यादृशम्: such as/whatever kind
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; correlatives with yathā; here qualifying rūpam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• लक्ष्यते: is seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lakṣ (लक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) present, 3rd person singular Ātmanepada; passive sense 'is observed/appears'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• रूपम्: appearance
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive-like verb)

• यथा: as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative/correlative adverb
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु); śruta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP; Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative: 'has been heard'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicative

• मया: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; 'by me'
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• व्यक्तम्: clearly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vyakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative/neuter used as avyaya: 'clearly'
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• प्राप्ताः: (we) have reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (आप् धातु); prāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP used predicatively with sma; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'have reached'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• स्म: indeed (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle used with past/perfect to indicate recollection/narrative emphasis
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• तम्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; determiner of deśam
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (determiner)

• देशम्: region
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• भरद्वाजः: Bharadvāja
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharadvāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (of abravīt)

• यम्: which/whom
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to deśam
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (of abravīt)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect, 3rd person singular Parasmaipada; 'said'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• चैव = च + एव
• यमब्रवीत् = यम् + अब्रवीत्

Context

This mountain is Chitrakuta and this river, Mandakini. The forest shines from a distance like a blue cloud.

The teaching

धर्ममार्गे प्रकृतिः अपि उपदेशिका—शान्त-देशः मनः शमयति।

Ethical theme

आश्रम-धर्म / वैराग्य-प्रेरणा

For your practice

Tīrtha-smaraṇa and nature-contemplation (prakṛti-dhyāna) as supports for śānti and japa.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Scenic, serene, awe-tinged

Themes

• Itihasa
• Sacred Geography
• Dharma
• Exile Context
• Maryada

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Citrakūṭa
• Mandākinī
• Bharata
• Vasiṣṭha
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is situated in place: Citrakūṭa and Mandākinī become markers of the exile narrative, reminding that righteous living may unfold away from royal comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata points out key landmarks—Citrakūṭa and Mandākinī—indicating proximity to where Rāma is staying.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Purposeful focus (lakṣya-niṣṭhā): Bharata’s attention is fixed on reaching Rāma, reading the landscape as guidance toward his duty.