Shloka 17

मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

उपस्पृशंस्त्रिषवणं मधुमूलफलाशनः।नायोध्यायैन राज्याय स्पृहयेऽद्य त्वया सह।।।।

Transliteration

upaspṛśaṃs triṣavaṇaṃ madhumūlaphalāśanaḥ | nāyodhyāyai na rājyāya spṛhaye 'dya tvayā saha ||

Translation

త్రికాలస్నానం ఆచరిస్తూ, మధు‑మూల‑ఫలాలను భుజిస్తూ—ఈ రోజు నీతో కలిసి నాకు అయోధ్యపై గానీ, రాజ్యంపై గానీ ఆశ లేదు।

Word by Word

• उपस्पृशन्: bathing; performing ablutions
• उपस्पृशन्: Karta (कर्ता/Descriptive of speaker)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; ‘touching (water), performing ablution’

• त्रिषवणम्: at the three daily prayer-times
• त्रिषवणम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial compound), नपुंसकलिङ्ग एकवचन द्वितीया (neuter accusative used adverbially); ‘त्रिषु सवनेषु/at the three prayer-times’

• मधुमूलफलाशनः: an eater of honey, roots, and fruits
• मधुमूलफलाशनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + मूल + फल + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): मधु-मूल-फलानि अश्नाति इति/one who eats honey, roots, and fruits

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अयोध्यायै: for Ayodhya
• अयोध्यायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative)

• न: nor
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• राज्याय: for the kingdom
• राज्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), एकवचन (Singular), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative)

• स्पृहये: I long for
• स्पृहये: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; ‘to long for’

• अद्य: today; now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• त्वया: with you
• त्वया: Sahakaraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition), सहार्थे (in the sense of accompaniment)

Context

With this enchanting Mandakini teeming with herds of deer, whose waters are drunk by elephants, lions and monkeys, decorated with heaps of flowers fallen from the trees in full bloom, who will not feel happy and free from fatigue.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Ayodhyā
• rājya (kingship)

FAQs

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

Dharma is non-attachment aligned with truth (satya): Rāma accepts exile faithfully and shows that integrity matters more than power.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma contrasts forest discipline (ritual bathing, simple food) with royal life, affirming that with Sītā he feels no craving for throne or city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Renunciation and steadfastness—Rāma’s mind remains calm and duty-oriented rather than ambitious.