Valmiki Ramayana 2.49.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 10
एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 49): Rāma’s Night Journey Beyond Kosala and the Charioteer Address
Setting: River Vedaśruti; proceeding toward Agastya’s quarter (southern direction implied)Places named: Vedaśruti (river), Agastya’s quarter/directionPost-crossing advance toward Agastya’s hermitage region
ततो वेदश्रुतिं नाम शिववारिवहां नदीम् ।
उत्तीर्याभिमुखः प्रायादगस्त्याध्युषितां दिशम् ॥१०॥
tato vedaśrutiṃ nāma śivavārivahāṃ nadīm |
uttīryābhimukhaḥ prāyād agastyādhyuṣitāṃ diśam ||10||
Depois, tendo atravessado o rio chamado Vedaśruti, portador de águas auspiciosas, seguiu adiante voltado para a direção onde residia Agastya.
Sandhi Notes
- उत्तीर्याभिमुखः → उत्तीर्य + अभिमुखः
- प्रायादगस्त्याध्युषितां → प्रायात् + अगस्त्याध्युषिताम्
He then crossed the river Vedasruti flowing with sacred waters and went in the southern direction where sage Agastya resided.
The teaching
Auspicious progress in dharma includes seeking the counsel and presence of realized sages; the path is sanctified by right direction and right company.
- Ethical theme
- Satsaṅga / guru-upāsana
For your practice
Pilgrimage-mindset practice: before major decisions, ‘cross the river’ of confusion by turning toward the wise (ṛṣi/guru).
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Pilgrimage-like, auspicious, forward-moving
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Sacred geography
- Āśrama culture
- Pilgrimage and sages
Crossing waters as transition from one stage of sādhanā to another; moving toward the jñānī (ṛṣi) as movement toward illumination.
Approach to the knower (tad-vijñānārthaṃ sa gurum evābhigacchet—Muṇḍaka) echoed in the journey toward Agastya.
- Rama and Agastya
- Seeker approaching revered ṛṣi; pilgrimage toward a sage’s abode (reverence)
Purāṇas: Agastya’s southern sojourn and sanctifying presence in the Dakṣiṇāpatha; Rāmcaritmānas, Araṇyakāṇḍa: Rāma’s meeting with sages including Agastya
Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad (approach to guru); Vedic river-as-sacred motif
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 3.10-3.12 (Agastya episode later in Araṇyakāṇḍa; thematic anticipation); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.48-2.50 (forest journey itinerary)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Śānta-udātta (clear, auspicious cadence)
FAQs
Dharma includes seeking guidance from realized sages and moving through sacred landscapes with reverence; Rāma’s journey toward Agastya signals alignment with āśrama-based ethical wisdom.
During exile, Rāma crosses the river Vedaśruti and heads toward the region associated with sage Agastya.
Rāma’s humility and dhārmic orientation—he proceeds toward a venerable sage, valuing counsel and sanctity over power or comfort.
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