Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 16

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

तत्र श्रियमिवाचिन्त्यां रामो दाशरथिः प्रियाम्।ईषत्संलज्जमानां तामध्यारोपयतप्लवम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.55.16

Transliteration

tatra śriyam ivācintyāṃ rāmo dāśarathiḥ priyām |

īṣat saṃlajjamānāṃ tām adhyāropayat plavam ||

Translation

అక్కడ దాశరథి రాముడు, అవర్ణనీయ కాంతితో శ్రీలక్ష్మీ వలె ప్రకాశించే తన ప్రియ సీతను, స్వల్ప లజ్జతో ముందుకు సాగుతుండగా, ప్లవంపై ఎక్కించాడు।

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Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• श्रियम्: Lakshmi; splendor
• श्रियम्: Upamana (उपमान; comparison object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अचिन्त्याम्: inconceivable
• अचिन्त्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचिन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying प्रियाम्/ताम्)

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दाशरथिः: son of Dasharatha
• दाशरथिः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशरथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; patronymic

• प्रियाम्: beloved (Sita)
• प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘beloved (woman)’

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘slightly’

• संलज्जमानाम्: feeling shy
• संलज्जमानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + लज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-शतृ/शानच् (present participle, आत्मनेपद-भाव), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ताम्

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अध्यारोपयत्: made (her) board
• अध्यारोपयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘made (her) mount’

• प्लवम्: the float
• प्लवम्: Karma (कर्म; destination/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Rama, son of Dasaratha helped his beloved (Sita), who was looking inconceivably like Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and was feeling a little bashful while stepping on to the float.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Śrī/Lakṣmī (comparison)
• plava (float/raft)

FAQs

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

Dharma is marital respect and protection: even in exile, Rāma maintains dignified care for Sītā, safeguarding her comfort and honor.

What is the narrative situation?

At the riverbank, as they prepare to cross, Rāma assists Sītā onto the raft.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gentle guardianship and courtesy—Rāma’s attentive support and Sītā’s modest dignity.