Valmiki Ramayana 2.95.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 95, Shloka 14

मन्दाकिनीनदीदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Mandākinī at Citrakūṭa

Spoken by Rama to SitaSetting: Mandākinī river at CitrakūṭaPlaces named: MandākinīSettled forest-life during exile

Devanagari script

सखीवच्च विगाहस्व सीते मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् ।

कमलान्यवमज्जन्ती पुष्कराणि च भामिनि ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.95.14

Transliteration

sakhīvac ca vigāhasva sīte mandākinīṃ nadīm |

kamalāny avamajjantī puṣkarāṇi ca bhāmini ||14||

Translation

โอ้สีตา ผู้เลอโฉม จงลงสู่แม่น้ำมันทากินีดุจสหายสนิทเถิด; ขณะเล่นน้ำ โอ้ผู้มีรัศมีงาม จงจุ่มดอกบัวแดงและดอกบัวขาวลงไปในสายน้ำ.

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Word by Word

• सखीवत्: like a friend
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (adverbial ‘like a friend’); वत्-प्रत्ययान्त
• Role: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)

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

• विगाहस्व: enter / bathe
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + गाह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• सीते: O Sita
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• मन्दाकिनीम्: Mandakini
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• नदीम्: river
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; मन्दाकिनीम् इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• कमलानि: lotuses
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अवमज्जन्ती: submerging (them)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि; सीता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Kartr̥-sahacara (कर्तृ-सहचर/विशेषण)

• पुष्कराणि: white lotuses
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

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

• भामिनि: O lovely lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

Sandhi Notes

• सखीवच्च = सखीवत् + च
• कमलान्यवमज्जन्ती = कमलानि + अवमज्जन्ती (इ + अ → य)

Context

O lovely Sita, like a companion plunge into this river Mandakini, submerging the red and white lotuses, and enjoy sporting.

The teaching

Affection and beauty can be preserved without luxury—by befriending the sacred simplicity of nature.

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma (marital harmony) within adversity

For your practice

Cultivates sakhī-bhāva toward tīrtha and mindful joy; supports gratitude practice in austere life.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Playful, sensuous, fresh

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Companionship
• Simple joy

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Mandākinī
• kamala (lotus)
• puṣkara (lotus)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes sustaining harmony in hardship: Rāma encourages innocent recreation that preserves emotional balance without abandoning restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma invites Sītā to enjoy the Mandākinī, depicting the river’s lotus-filled beauty to lighten the mood of exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Affectionate care—Rāma actively nurtures Sītā’s comfort and joy.