Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.29 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 29

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

गच्छतोऽस्तु तयोर्मध्ये बभूव जनकात्मजा।मातङ्गयोर्मध्यगता शुभा नागवधूरिव।।।।

Transliteration

gacchato 'stu tayor madhye babhūva janakātmajā | mātaṅgayor madhyagatā śubhā nāgavadhūr iva ||

Translation

چلتے ہوئے جنک کی بیٹی ان دونوں کے بیچ میں ہو گئی—مبارک، جیسے دو نر ہاتھیوں کے درمیان چلتی ہوئی شریف مادہ ہاتھی۔

Word by Word

• गच्छतोः: of the two who were going / while the two were going
• गच्छतोः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative context)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (Gen./Loc. dual)

• अस्तु: was/let it be (expletive/particle-like)
• अस्तु: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive usage), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• जनकात्मजा: Janaka's daughter (Sītā)
• जनकात्मजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जनकस्य आत्मजा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine nominative singular)

• मातङ्गयोः: of the two elephants
• मातङ्गयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, द्विवचन (Genitive dual)

• मध्यगता: gone/placed in the middle
• मध्यगता: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य + गत (गम्-धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (मध्ये गता); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुभा: auspicious/beautiful
• शुभा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नागवधूः: a female elephant
• नागवधूः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + वधू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नागस्य वधूः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

The daughter of Janaka walked between them like a she-elephant between two males.

Characters & Entities

• Sita
• Janaka
• Rama
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed as protective propriety (maryādā): Sītā’s placement between the brothers symbolizes safeguarding her honor and safety during travel.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative describes their walking formation in the forest: Sītā proceeds between Rama and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The brothers’ protective vigilance and Sītā’s auspicious dignity amid hardship.