Valmiki Ramayana 2.95.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 95, Shloka 8

मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa

Spoken by Rama to SitaSetting: Chitrakuta mountain near MandakiniPlaces named: Mandakini (implied by 'nadi')Forest-exile sojourn (Chitrakuta stay)

Devanagari script

मारुतोद्धूतशिखरैः प्रनृत्त इव पर्वतः ।

पादपैः पत्रपुष्पाणि सृजद्भिरभितो नदीम् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.95.8

Transliteration

mārutoddhūtaśikharaiḥ pranṛtta iva parvataḥ |

pādapaiḥ patrapuṣpāṇi sṛjadbhir abhito nadīm ||8||

Translation

గాలికి ఊగే శిఖరాలతో ఆ పర్వతము నర్తిస్తున్నట్లుగా కనిపించింది; చెట్లు నది చుట్టూ ఆకులు, పుష్పాలు రాల్చుతున్నాయి।

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Word by Word

• मारुत-उद्धूत-शिखरैः: with peaks (tree-tops) shaken by the wind
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूत (धू धातु, क्त/कृदन्त) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (शिखर-शब्दः नपुंसक/पुं; अत्र तृतीया बहुवचन ‘शिखरैः’), तृतीया बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मारुतेन उद्धूतानि शिखराणि येषाम् तैः)
• Role: Hetu/Karana (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• प्रनृत्तः: dancing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नृत् (धातु) / प्रनृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘danced’ (as if dancing)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)
• Role: Upamā (उपमा-सूचक)

• पर्वतः: the mountain
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• पादपैः: by/with trees
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• पत्र-पुष्पाणि: leaves and flowers
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (पत्राणि च पुष्पाणि च)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvandva

• सृजद्भिः: shedding
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘those shedding’ (agreeing with पादपैः)
• Role: Kartr̥-sahacara (कर्तृ-सहचर/विशेषण)

• अभितः: around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (spatial adverb)
• Role: Desha-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)

• नदीम्: the river
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• मारुतोद्धूतशिखरैः = मारुत-उद्धूत-शिखरैः
• सृजद्भिरभितो = सृजद्भिः + अभितः

Context

With the trees whose tops are swayed by the wind, the mountain was as if dancing, shedding leaves and flowers all around the river.

The teaching

Attentive seeing of nature’s order and beauty steadies the mind; even exile contains occasions for contemplative joy.

Ethical theme

Sāttvika-vihāra (wholesome enjoyment)

For your practice

Supports mindfulness and pratyāhāra through aesthetic absorption in nature (prakriti-dhyāna).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Wind-swept, lively, fresh

Themes

• Itihasa
• Nature
• Dharma
• Aesthetics
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Mandākinī
• parvata (mountain)
• māruta (wind)
• pādapa (trees)

FAQs

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

Dharma is harmony with the natural order: the verse invites a contemplative mind that recognizes rhythm and balance in creation, supporting inner truthfulness and calm in adversity.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma poetically depicts the landscape around the river—wind-swept trees and falling blossoms—so Sītā may feel at ease in exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saumya-dṛṣṭi (gentle, appreciative vision)—Rāma’s capacity to transform hardship into shared contemplation and peace.