Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 2

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

तेषां चैव स्वस्त्ययनं महर्षि स्स चकार ह।प्रस्थितांश्चैव तान्प्रेक्ष्य पिता पुत्रानिवान्वगात्।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ caiva svastyayanaṃ maharṣiḥ sa cakāra ha | prasthitāṃś caiva tān prekṣya pitā putrān ivānvagāt ||

Translation

Đại ẩn sĩ liền làm lễ chúc lành cho chuyến đi được bình an; và nhìn họ lên đường, ngài cũng theo sau—như người cha tiễn bước chính những người con của mình.

Word by Word

• teṣām: to them
• teṣām: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of/to them'

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

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• svastyayanam: blessing for safe journey
• svastyayanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svastyayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of cakāra

• maharṣiḥ: the great sage
• maharṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun referring to maharṣiḥ

• cakāra: did/made
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• ha: indeed/for emphasis
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक)

• prasthitān: departed/setting forth
• prasthitān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-sthā (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past participle (क्त); Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies tān

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

• eva: also/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• prekṣya: having seen
• prekṣya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-īkṣ (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्); 'having seen'

• pitā: father
• pitā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमावाचक)

• anvagāt: followed
• anvagāt: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

Context

Those valiant sons of Dasaratha held the float (firmly) to help Sita step on to it. Then they crossed the river carefully.

Characters & Entities

• Maharṣi (great sage)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Sītā

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as protective care and auspicious guardianship: the sage does not merely instruct from afar but blesses and accompanies them, embodying responsible guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma’s party sets out, a great sage offers a ritual benediction for their safe passage and follows them with paternal concern.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate responsibility (anugraha) and guardianship—care that acts, not only advises.