Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 11

गङ्गातरणम्

Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga

Devanagari script

अन्या स्स्वस्तिकविज्ञेया महाघंटाधरा वराः।शोभमानाः पताकाभिर्युक्तवातास्सुसंहताः।।।।

Transliteration

anyāḥ svastikavijñeyā mahāghaṇṭādharā varāḥ | śobhamānāḥ patākābhir yuktavātāḥ susaṃhatāḥ ||

Translation

“اور دوسری عمدہ کشتیاں بھی لائی گئیں، جو ‘سواستک’ کہلاتی تھیں—مضبوط بنی ہوئی، جھنڈیوں سے آراستہ، بادبانوں سے مزین، اور بڑے بڑے گھنٹوں سے لٹکی ہوئی، نہایت خوش نما۔”

Word by Word

• अन्याः: others (boats)
• अन्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (implicit) नावः as head-noun

• स्वस्तिक-विज्ञेयाः: known as ‘Swastika’
• स्वस्तिक-विज्ञेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √ज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘known as Swastika’

• महाघण्टा-धराः: bearing large bells
• महाघण्टा-धराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √धृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘bearing big bells’

• वराः: excellent
• वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘excellent’ qualifying boats

• शोभमानाः: shining, splendid
• शोभमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present Active Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘shining/appearing splendid’

• पताकाभिः: with flags
• पताकाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युक्त-वाताः: fitted with sails
• युक्त-वाताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √युज्) + वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having wind/sails fitted’ (i.e., with sails)

• सु-संहताः: well-built, solid
• सु-संहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + संहत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √हन् with sam-)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘well-compacted/solidly built’

Context

Then Guha personally brought an auspicious boat known as Swastika covered with white canvas and generating captivating sounds.

Characters & Entities

• boats
• flags (patākā)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as preparedness and collective support: resources are arranged to ensure safe passage for all, reflecting care for the community rather than individual convenience.

What is the narrative situation?

Multiple well-equipped boats are assembled for transporting Bharata’s party and their retinue across the river.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guha’s and the attendants’ practical service-mindedness is implied through the provision of strong, well-equipped boats.