Valmiki Ramayana 2.89.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 21

गङ्गातरणम्

Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga

Devanagari script

सा पुण्या ध्वजिनी गङ्गां दाशैस्सन्तारिता स्वयम्।मैत्रे मुहूर्ते प्रययौ प्रयागवनमुत्तमम्।।।।

Transliteration

sā puṇyā dhvajinī gaṅgāṃ dāśaiḥ santāritā svayam | maitre muhūrte prayayau prayāgavanam uttamam ||

Translation

那吉祥的军旅由渔夫舟子亲自渡过恒河，继而前行，于弥特罗吉时抵达最胜的祇罗迦（Prayāga）林野。

Word by Word

• सा: that (army); she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुण्या: auspicious; blessed
• पुण्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ध्वजिनी: army
• ध्वजिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वजिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गङ्गाम्: the Ganga (river)
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दाशैः: by fishermen/boatmen
• दाशैः: Karana (करण/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सन्तारिता: was ferried across
• सन्तारिता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• स्वयम्: themselves; on their own
• स्वयम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

• मैत्रे: in the Maitra (auspicious)
• मैत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; मुहूर्त-विशेषण

• मुहूर्ते: at the auspicious moment
• मुहूर्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्रययौ: went; reached
• प्रययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रयागवनम्: the forest of Prayaga
• प्रयागवनम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाग (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रयागस्य वनम्)

• उत्तमम्: excellent; best
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Context

On hearing Guha's affectionate words Bharata, ever obedient to Rama, replied:

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Prayāga
• army (dhvajinī)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked with purposeful movement guided by auspicious order: the journey proceeds in a disciplined way, respecting sacred geography and proper timing.

What is the narrative situation?

After crossing the Gaṅgā with help from fishermen, Bharata’s force advances to the Prayāga forest area.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective discipline and reverence for sacred space/time in undertaking a serious mission.