Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.11 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 11

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs

Devanagari script

ततः कलापान् सन्नह्य खड्गौ बध्वा च धन्विनौ।जग्मतुर्येन तौ गङ्गां सीतया सह राघवौ।।2.52.11।।

Transliteration

tataḥ kalāpān sannahya khaḍgau baddhvā ca dhanvinau | jagmatur yena tau gaṅgāṃ sītayā saha rāghavau ||

Translation

แล้วราฆวะทั้งสองผู้ทรงธนูได้จัดเตรียมแล่งศร คาดพระแสงดาบ แล้วเสด็จไปพร้อมนางสีดา มุ่งสู่แม่น้ำคงคา

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequence adverb)

• कलापान्: quivers
• कलापान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सन्नह्य: having fastened
• सन्नह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√nah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action), ‘having fastened/secured’

• खड्गौ: two swords
• खड्गौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• बध्वा: having tied on
• बध्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bandh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action), ‘having tied/bound (on)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• धन्विनौ: the two bowmen
• धन्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• जग्मतुः: went
• जग्मतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• येन: by which (way)
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); मार्ग/उपायवाचक (by which way)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

• गङ्गाम्: the Ganga
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सीतया: with Sita
• सीतया: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sītā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable expressing accompaniment)

• राघवौ: the two Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana)
• राघवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual)

Context

The wretched Sumantra kept gazing at Rama who swiftly reached the other side of the Ganga and only when he could not see him because of long distance, he turned away his gaze and, overcome with grief, shed tears.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā
• Gaṅgā
• Quiver
• Sword
• Bow

FAQs

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

Responsible protection: even in exile, dharma requires vigilance and readiness to safeguard dependents (especially Sītā) on uncertain paths.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa prepare their weapons and proceed with Sītā toward the Gaṅgā for crossing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s protective devotion and Rāma’s disciplined foresight in ensuring readiness.