Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.75: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 75

गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्

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

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Gaṅgā riverbank at the moored boatPlaces named: GaṅgāEmbarkation for Gaṅgā crossing toward Citrakūṭa route

Devanagari script

आरोह त्वं नरव्याघ्र स्थितां नावमिमां शनैः ।

सीतां चारोपयान्वक्षं परिगृह्य मनस्विनीम् ॥७५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.52.75

Transliteration

āroha tvaṃ naravyāghra sthitāṃ nāvam imāṃ śanaiḥ |

sītāṃ cāropayānvakṣaṃ parigṛhya manasvinīm ||75||

Translation

“โอ้พยัคฆ์แห่งหมู่มนุษย์ จงขึ้นเรือลำนี้ที่พร้อมแล้วอย่างช้า ๆ และจงประคองพระนางสีดาผู้มีจิตสูงส่งให้ขึ้น โดยจับยึดคาน/ที่พยุงไว้ให้มั่นคง”

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Word by Word

• आरोह: board, climb
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)

• नर-व्याघ्र: O tiger among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (idiomatic): नराणां व्याघ्र इव (best among men), पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• स्थिताम्: standing, ready
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used adjectivally; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नावम् विशेषयति
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• नावम्: boat
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• इमाम्: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नावम् विशेषयति
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• शनैः: slowly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थ-अव्यय (adverb): ‘slowly’
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• सीताम्: Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)

• आरोपय: make (her) board, help aboard
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु) [णिच् causative: आरोपयति]
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)

• अन्वक्षम्: alongside (the side/beam)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्वक्षम् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of position): ‘alongside/near (the beam/side)’
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• परिगृह्य: having held (her)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव: ‘having held/supporting’
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)

• मनस्विनीम्: high-minded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सीताम् विशेषयति
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• चारोपय = च + आरोपय
• (IAST in prompt shows āropayānvakṣaṃ; resolve as आरोपय + अन्वक्षम्.)

Context

O Lakshmana, the best of men! the boat stands ready, get into it slowly (carefully), and then help the noble Sita board it by holding the beam (which balances the boat).

The teaching

Strength expresses itself as careful protection: the heroic is also the gentle—ensuring the vulnerable cross safely.

Ethical theme

Rakṣā-dharma (protective duty)

For your practice

Sevā with mindfulness: assist others through transitions slowly, steadily, and with respectful attention.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Careful, protective, composed

Themes

• Dharma
• Protection
• Family Duty
• Maryada
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita
• boat
• Gaṅgā (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma is protective responsibility: the strong must safeguard the vulnerable, and careful conduct is itself a form of righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

At the river crossing, Rāma directs Lakṣmaṇa to board carefully and assist Sītā safely into the boat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Considerate guardianship—Lakṣmaṇa is entrusted with attentive care for Sītā’s safety.