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

मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa

Devanagari script

मारुतोद्धूतशिखरैः प्रनृत्त इव पर्वतः।पादपैः पत्रपुष्पाणि सृजद्भिरभितो नदीम्।।।।

Transliteration

mārutoddhūtaśikharaiḥ pranṛtta iva parvataḥ | pādapaiḥ patrapuṣpāṇi sṛjadbhir abhito nadīm ||

Translation

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

Word by Word

• मारुत-उद्धूत-शिखरैः: with peaks (tree-tops) shaken by the wind
• मारुत-उद्धूत-शिखरैः: Hetu/Karana (करण)
• 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.