Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 14

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

तौ काष्ठसङ्घातमथो चक्रतु स्सुमहाप्लवम्।शुष्कैर्वंशै स्समास्तीर्णमुशीरैश्च समावृतम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.55.14

Transliteration

tau kāṣṭha-saṅghātam atho cakratuḥ su-mahā-plavam |

śuṣkair vaṃśaiḥ samāstīrṇam uśīraiś ca samāvṛtam ||

Translation

แล้วทั้งสองก็ผูกท่อนไม้เป็นแพใหญ่ยิ่ง ปูด้วยลำไผ่แห้ง และคลุมทับด้วยรากหญ้าอุศีระอันหอม

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Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• काष्ठसङ्घातम्: a log-raft
• काष्ठसङ्घातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ + सङ्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (काष्ठानां सङ्घातः) ‘a mass/raft of logs’

• अथो: then
• अथो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atho (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction) ‘then/and then’

• चक्रतुः: made
• चक्रतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुमहाप्लवम्: a very large float
• सुमहाप्लवम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + महा + प्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुमहान् प्लवः) ‘a very large float’

• शुष्कैः: with dry
• शुष्कैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वंशैः: bamboos
• वंशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• समास्तीर्णम्: well-spread
• समास्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘well-spread/covered’ (qualifying प्लवम्)

• उशीरैः: with usira-roots
• उशीरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; fragrant roots (material)

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

• समावृतम्: covered
• समावृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered’ (qualifying प्लवम्)

Context

Then they both made a big wooden float by joining logs of wood, spreading bamboos on it and covering it with the (fragrant roots of) Ushira bushes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kālindī (Yamunā)
• plava (float/raft)
• vaṃśa (bamboo)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through responsible action: they solve the problem safely using available resources, prioritizing the well-being of all travelers.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa construct a large raft/float to cross the Yamunā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resourcefulness and teamwork—turning forest materials into a safe means of passage.