← 2.88 Rāma shows Sītā Citrakūṭa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.90 Lakṣmaṇa suspects Bharata’s army →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 89: Rāma invites Sītā into the Mandākinī

Summary. He urges her to bathe and regard the mountain as Ayodhyā, the river as Sarayū and its animals as citizens

Sequence

  1. Descending from the mountain, Rāma shows Sītā the river, its waterbirds, flowers, and tree-lined banks (2.89.1–4)
  2. they see deer drinking and tapasvins bathing or worshipping the sun (2.89.5–8)
  3. flowers float downstream and birds rise above the water (2.89.9–11)
  4. Rāma invites Sītā to bathe with him, saying that being there with her seems better than city life (2.89.12–14)
  5. he asks her to think of the animals as their fellow citizens, the mountain as Ayodhyā, and the river as the Sarayū → with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa beside him, he says he does not long for the Kingdom. (2.89.15–19)

Verses 2.89.1–19

2.89.1

atha śailād viniṣkramya maithilīṃ kosaleśvaraḥ
adarśayac chubhajalāṃ ramyāṃ mandākinīṃ nadīm

Then, descending from the mountain, the lord of Kosala (Rāma) showed the Maithilī (Sītā) the lovely river Mandākinī with its pure waters.

Words: atha — then; śailād — from the mountain; viniṣkramya — having come out, descended; maithilīṃ — to the Maithilī (Sītā); kosaleśvaraḥ — the lord of Kosala; adarśayac — showed; chubhajalāṃ — with pure, bright waters; ramyāṃ — lovely; mandākinīṃ — the Mandākinī; nadīm — river

2.89.2

abravīc ca varārohāṃ cārucandranibhānanām
videharājasya sutāṃ rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ

And lotus-eyed Rāma spoke to the fair-hipped daughter of the king of Videha, whose face was like the lovely moon:

Words: abravīc — and spoke; ca — and; varārohāṃ — the fair-hipped lady; cārucandranibhānanām — whose face resembled the lovely moon; videharājasya — of the king of Videha; sutāṃ — the daughter; rāmo — Rāma; rājīvalocanaḥ — lotus-eyed

2.89.3

vicitrapulināṃ ramyāṃ haṃsasārasasevitām
kusumair upasaṃpannāṃ paśya mandākinīṃ nadīm

“Behold the river Mandākinī, with its lovely, wondrous sandbanks, frequented by swans and cranes, and rich with flowers,

Words: vicitrapulināṃ — with wondrous sandbanks; ramyāṃ — lovely; haṃsasārasasevitām — frequented by swans and cranes; kusumair — with flowers; upasaṃpannāṃ — endowed, furnished; paśya — behold; mandākinīṃ nadīm — the river Mandākinī

2.89.4

nānāvidhais tīraruhair vṛtāṃ puṣpaphaladrumaiḥ
rājantīṃ rājarājasya nalinīm iva sarvataḥ

encircled on every side by manifold bank-growing trees bearing flowers and fruit, resplendent like the lotus-pool of the king of kings (Kubera).

Words: nānāvidhais — of various kinds; tīraruhair — growing on the bank; vṛtāṃ — surrounded, encircled; puṣpaphaladrumaiḥ — by trees bearing flowers and fruit; rājantīṃ — shining, resplendent; rājarājasya — of the king of kings (Kubera); nalinīm — the lotus-pool; iva — like; sarvataḥ — on all sides

2.89.5

mṛgayūthanipītāni kaluṣāmbhāṃsi sāmpratam
tīrthāni ramaṇīyāni ratiṃ saṃjanayanti me

The lovely bathing-places, their waters drunk from by herds of deer and now grown turbid, awaken delight in me.

Words: mṛgayūthanipītāni — drunk from by herds of deer; kaluṣāmbhāṃsi — with turbid waters; sāmpratam — now, at present; tīrthāni — the bathing-places, fords; ramaṇīyāni — lovely, delightful; ratiṃ — delight; saṃjanayanti — produce, awaken; me — in me

2.89.6

jaṭājinadharāḥ kāle valkalottaravāsasaḥ
ṛṣayas tv avagāhante nadīṃ mandākinīṃ priye

Wearing matted locks and antelope-skins, clad in bark upper-garments, the seers, my dear, bathe at the proper time in the river Mandākinī.

Words: jaṭājinadharāḥ — wearing matted locks and antelope-skins; kāle — at the (proper) time; valkalottaravāsasaḥ — clad in bark upper-garments; ṛṣayas — the seers; tv — indeed; avagāhante — plunge in, bathe; nadīṃ mandākinīṃ — the river Mandākinī; priye — my dear

2.89.7

ādityam upatiṣṭhante niyamād ūrdhvabāhavaḥ
ete 'pare viśālākṣi munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ

These other sages, O wide-eyed one, of strict vows, with their arms upraised, worship the Sun as their observance requires.

Words: ādityam — the Sun; upatiṣṭhante — worship, attend upon; niyamād — by their observance; ūrdhvabāhavaḥ — with arms upraised; ete — these; 'pare — others; viśālākṣi — O wide-eyed one; munayaḥ — the sages; saṃśitavratāḥ — of strict vows

2.89.8

mārutoddhūta śikharaiḥ pranṛtta iva parvataḥ
pādapaiḥ patrapuṣpāṇi sṛjadbhir abhito nadīm

With its treetops tossed by the wind, its trees scattering leaves and flowers all around the river, the mountain seems to be dancing.

Words: mārutoddhūta śikharaiḥ — with treetops tossed by the wind; pranṛtta — dancing; iva — as if; parvataḥ — the mountain; pādapaiḥ — by the trees; patrapuṣpāṇi — leaves and flowers; sṛjadbhir — scattering, shedding; abhito — around, on all sides; nadīm — the river

2.89.9

kaccin maṇinikāśodāṃ kaccit pulinaśālinīm
kaccit siddhajanākīrṇāṃ paśya mandākinīṃ nadīm

Behold the river Mandākinī — here with waters bright as jewels, there graced with sandbanks, and elsewhere thronged with Siddhas.

Words: kaccin — here, in one place; maṇinikāśodāṃ — with waters resembling jewels; kaccit — there; pulinaśālinīm — graced with sandbanks; kaccit — elsewhere; siddhajanākīrṇāṃ — thronged with Siddha folk; paśya — behold; mandākinīṃ nadīm — the river Mandākinī

2.89.10

nirdhūtān vāyunā paśya vitatān puṣpasaṃcayān
poplūyamānān aparān paśya tvaṃ jalamadhyagān

See the masses of flowers shaken down by the wind and spread over the water; and see others floating about in the midst of the stream.

Words: nirdhūtān — shaken down; vāyunā — by the wind; paśya — behold; vitatān — spread out, extended; puṣpasaṃcayān — masses of flowers; poplūyamānān — floating, bobbing about; aparān — others; paśya tvaṃ — you behold; jalamadhyagān — moving in the midst of the water

2.89.11

tāṃś cātivalgu vacaso rathāṅgāhvayanā dvijāḥ
adhirohanti kalyāṇi niṣkūjantaḥ śubhā giraḥ

And the birds called cakravāka, of most sweet voice, rise up over those (flowers), O fair one, uttering their lovely cries.

Words: tāṃś — those; cātivalgu — and very sweet; vacaso — of voice, speech; rathāṅgāhvayanā — named 'rathāṅga' (the cakravāka, ruddy goose); dvijāḥ — the birds (twice-born); adhirohanti — rise up over, mount upon; kalyāṇi — O fair, auspicious one; niṣkūjantaḥ — warbling, uttering cries; śubhā — lovely, sweet; giraḥ — voices, cries

2.89.12

darśanaṃ citrakūṭasya mandākinyāś ca śobhane
adhikaṃ puravāsāc ca manye ca tava darśanāt

The sight of Citrakūṭa and of the Mandākinī, O lovely one — made the finer by the sight of you — I deem far better than dwelling in the city.

Words: darśanaṃ — the sight, seeing; citrakūṭasya — of Citrakūṭa; mandākinyāś — and of the Mandākinī; ca — and; śobhane — O lovely one; adhikaṃ — greater, better; puravāsāc — than dwelling in the city; ca — and; manye — I deem, think; ca — and; tava darśanāt — from the sight of you

2.89.13

vidhūtakaluṣaiḥ siddhais tapodamaśamānvitaiḥ
nityavikṣobhita jalāṃ vihāhasva mayā saha

Bathe with me in this river, whose waters are ever stirred by the Siddhas — men purged of impurity, endowed with austerity, self-restraint, and calm.

Words: vidhūtakaluṣaiḥ — by those whose impurity is shaken off; siddhais — by the Siddhas; tapodamaśamānvitaiḥ — endowed with austerity, restraint, and calm; nityavikṣobhita jalāṃ — whose water is ever stirred; vihāhasva — bathe, plunge in; mayā saha — together with me

2.89.14

sakhīvac ca vigāhasva sīte mandakinīm imām
kamalāny avamajjantī puṣkarāṇi ca bhāmini

And plunge into this Mandākinī as into a friend, O Sītā, submerging the lotuses and water-lilies, O lovely one.

Words: sakhīvac — as with a friend; ca — and; vigāhasva — plunge in, bathe; sīte — O Sītā; mandakinīm — the Mandākinī; imām — this; kamalāny — the lotuses; avamajjantī — submerging, dipping under; puṣkarāṇi — the water-lilies, lotuses; ca — and; bhāmini — O lovely one

2.89.15

tvaṃ paurajanavad vyālān ayodhyām iva parvatam
manyasva vanite nityaṃ sarayūvad imāṃ nadīm

Ever regard the wild beasts as the townsfolk, the mountain as Ayodhyā, and this river as the Sarayū, O woman.

Words: tvaṃ — you; paurajanavad — as the townsfolk; vyālān — the wild beasts, predators; ayodhyām iva — as Ayodhyā; parvatam — the mountain; manyasva — consider, regard; vanite — O woman; nityaṃ — always; sarayūvad — as the Sarayū; imāṃ nadīm — this river

2.89.16

lakṣmaṇaś caiva dharmātmā mannideśe vyavasthitaḥ
tvaṃ cānukūlā vaidehi prītiṃ janayatho mama

And righteous Lakṣmaṇa, ever set upon my command, and you, agreeable, O Vaidehī — you two give me joy.

Words: lakṣmaṇaś — and Lakṣmaṇa; caiva — and indeed; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; mannideśe — upon my command; vyavasthitaḥ — established, steadfast; tvaṃ — you; cānukūlā — and agreeable, favorable; vaidehi — O Vaidehī; prītiṃ — joy, pleasure; janayatho — you two produce; mama — to me

2.89.17

upaspṛśaṃs triṣavaṇaṃ madhumūlaphalāśanaḥ
nāyodhyāyai na rājyāya spṛhaye 'dya tvayā saha

Performing my ablutions thrice a day, feeding on honey, roots, and fruit, together with you I long today neither for Ayodhyā nor for the kingdom.

Words: upaspṛśaṃs — performing ablutions, touching water; triṣavaṇaṃ — thrice a day (at the three pressings); madhumūlaphalāśanaḥ — feeding on honey, roots, and fruit; nāyodhyāyai — not for Ayodhyā; na rājyāya — nor for the kingdom; spṛhaye — I long, yearn; 'dya — today; tvayā saha — together with you

2.89.18

imāṃ hi ramyāṃ gajayūthalolitāṃ nipītatoyāṃ gajasiṃhavānaraiḥ
supuṣpitaiḥ puṣpadharair alaṃkṛtāṃ na so 'sti yaḥ syān na gatakramaḥ sukhī

Beholding this lovely river, stirred by herds of elephants, its water drunk by elephants, lions, and monkeys, adorned by well-blossomed flowering trees — there is none who, on coming to it, would not be made happy.

Words: imāṃ hi — this indeed; ramyāṃ — lovely; gajayūthalolitāṃ — stirred by herds of elephants; nipītatoyāṃ — its water drunk; gajasiṃhavānaraiḥ — by elephants, lions, and monkeys; supuṣpitaiḥ — by well-blossomed (trees); puṣpadharair — by flower-bearing trees; alaṃkṛtāṃ — adorned; na — there is no; so — one; 'sti — is; yaḥ — who; syān — would be; na — not; gatakramaḥ — having come, drawn near; sukhī — happy

2.89.19

itīva rāmo bahusaṃgataṃ vacaḥ priyā sahāyaḥ saritaṃ prati bruvan
cacāra ramyaṃ nayanāñjanaprabhaṃ sa citrakūṭaṃ raghuvaṃśavardhanaḥ

Thus speaking such well-fitting words to the river, Rāma, with his beloved as companion — that increaser of the Raghu line — roamed the lovely Citrakūṭa, dark-bright as the collyrium of the eyes.

Words: itīva — thus, in this way; rāmo — Rāma; bahusaṃgataṃ — well-fitting, apt; vacaḥ — words; priyā — with his beloved; sahāyaḥ — as companion; saritaṃ prati — toward the river; bruvan — speaking; cacāra — roamed, wandered; ramyaṃ — lovely; nayanāñjanaprabhaṃ — bright/dark as eye-collyrium; sa — he; citrakūṭaṃ — Citrakūṭa; raghuvaṃśavardhanaḥ — increaser of the Raghu lineage

← 2.88 Rāma shows Sītā Citrakūṭa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.90 Lakṣmaṇa suspects Bharata’s army →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/2/89.md · JSON: /data/2/89.json