Shloka 18

मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

इमांहि रम्यां मृगयूथशालिनीं निपीततोयां गजसिंहवानरैः।सुपुष्पितां पुष्पभरैरलङ्कृतां नसोऽस्ति य स्स्यान्न गतक्लम स्सुखी।।।।

Transliteration

imāṃ hi ramyāṃ mṛgayūthaśālinīṃ nipītatoyāṃ gajasiṃhavānaraiḥ | supuṣpitāṃ puṣpabharair alaṅkṛtāṃ na so 'sti yaḥ syān na gataklamaḥ sukhī ||

Translation

ఈ మందాకిని అత్యంత రమణీయమైనది—మృగయూథాలతో శోభిల్లి, దాని జలాన్ని ఏనుగులు, సింహాలు, వానరాలు త్రాగుతాయి. పుష్పించిన వృక్షాల నుండి జారిన పుష్పభారాలతో అలంకృతమై ఉంది; దీన్ని చూసి అలసట తొలగి ఎవరు సంతోషించరు?

Word by Word

इमाम्this

हिindeed

रम्याम्lovely

मृगयूथशालिनीम्abounding in herds of deer

निपीततोयाम्whose water is drunk

गजसिंहवानरैःby elephants, lions, and monkeys

सुपुष्पिताम्in full bloom

पुष्पभरैःwith masses of flowers

अलङ्कृताम्adorned

नnot

सःthat (person)

अस्तिexists

यःwho

स्यात्would be

नnot

गतक्लमःwith fatigue gone

सुखीhappy

Context

Rama, the perpetuator of the Raghu dynasty, describing the river Mandakini at length appropriately in this manner, wandered in the company of his beloved consort on mount Chitrakuta looking black like collyrium.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcanavatitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the ninetyfifth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Sītā

Mandākinī

deer

elephants

lions

monkeys

FAQs

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

Dharma here is mental poise: by appreciating what is pure and life-giving, one overcomes fatigue and grief without violating truth or duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma praises the Mandākinī’s beauty and abundance, suggesting that such a place naturally restores the spirit of those living in exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Optimism rooted in discipline—Rāma’s ability to draw strength from the environment and guide Sītā toward the same.