Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 95 of 119 · 19 verses
The River Mandakini
Coming down from the mountain, the lord of Kosala shows Maithili the lovely river Mandakini with its auspicious water. Lotus-eyed Rama says to the daughter of the Videha king, with her lovely hips and face like the moon: “See the lovely Mandakini, with its bright sandbanks, frequented by swans and cranes, full of lotuses, lined with many trees with flowers and fruit, shining on every side like the lotus pool of the king of kings. Its lovely fords, their water now muddied by herds of deer drinking, delight me. At the right times, beloved, seers with matted hair and deerskins, wearing bark upper garments, bathe in the Mandakini. Other sages of strict vows, large-eyed one, worship the sun with arms raised, by their rule. With its trees, their tops tossed by the wind, scattering leaves and flowers all round the river, the mountain seems to dance. See the Mandakini: here with water like crystal, there with lovely sandbanks, there crowded with siddhas. See the heaps of flowers shaken down by the wind and spread out, and others floating in the middle of the water. On them, lovely one, the chakravaka birds with their sweet voices climb, uttering lovely calls. The sight of Chitrakuta and the Mandakini, lovely one, I think, is better than living in the city, because I see you here. Bathe with me in this river, its water always stirred by siddhas cleansed of sin, rich in austerity, self-control and calm. Bathe in the Mandakini like a friend, Sita, plunging among the lotuses, passionate one. Think of the wild animals as the townspeople, the mountain as Ayodhya, and this river as the Sarayu. Righteous Lakshmana stands by my command, and you, Vaidehi, are kind to me: you both give me joy. Bathing three times a day, eating honey, roots and fruit, I do not long for Ayodhya or the kingdom, now that I am with you. There is no one who would not be refreshed and happy at this lovely river, rich in herds of deer, its water drunk by elephants, lions and monkeys, adorned with trees in full flower.” Speaking such fitting words about the river, with his beloved as his companion, the increaser of the Raghu line wanders over lovely Chitrakuta, shining like collyrium.
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अथ शैलाद्विनिष्क्रम्य मैथिलीं कोसलेश्वरः । अदर्शयच्छुभजलां रम्यां मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् ॥ १ ॥
Then, coming out from the mountain, the lord of Kosala showed Maithili the lovely river Mandakini with its auspicious water.
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The River Mandakini 1 min read.
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अब्रवीच्च वरारोहां चारुचन्द्रनिभाननाम् । विदेहराजस्य सुतां रामो राजीवलोचनः ॥ २ ॥
And lotus-eyed Rama said to the daughter of the king of Videha, with her lovely hips and face fair as the moon:
विचित्रपुलिनां रम्यां हंससारससेविताम् । कमलैरुपसम्पन्नां पश्य मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् ॥ ३ ॥
“See the river Mandakini, lovely, with bright sandbanks, frequented by swans and cranes, rich in lotuses,
नानाविधैस्तीररुहैर्वृतां पुष्पफलद्रुमैः । राजन्तीं राजराजस्य नलिनीमिव सर्वतः ॥ ४ ॥
“surrounded by many kinds of trees with flowers and fruit growing on its banks, shining on every side like the lotus pool of the king of kings.
मृगयूथनिपीतानि कलुषाम्भांसि साम्प्रतम् । तीर्थानि रमणीयानि रतिं सञ्जनयन्ति मे ॥ ५ ॥
“Its lovely fords, their water now made muddy where herds of deer have drunk, give me delight.
जटाजिनधराः काले वल्कलोत्तरवाससः । ऋषयस्त्ववगाहन्ते नदीं मन्दाकिनीं प्रिये ॥ ६ ॥
“At the proper times, dear, seers wearing matted hair and deerskins, with bark upper garments, bathe in the river Mandakini.
आदित्यमुपतिष्ठन्ते नियमादूर्द्ध्वबाहवः । एते परे विशालाक्षि मुनयः संशितव्रताः ॥ ७ ॥
“These other sages of strict vows, large-eyed one, worship the sun with arms raised, according to their rule.
मारुतोद्धूतशिखरैः प्रनृत्त इव पर्वतः । पादपैः पत्ऺत्रपुष्पाणि सृजद्भिरभितो नदीम् ॥ ८ ॥
“With trees whose tops are tossed by the wind, scattering leaves and flowers all round the river, the mountain seems to dance.
क्वचिन्मणिनिकाशोदां क्वचित्पुलिनशालिनीम् । क्वचित्सिद्धजनाकीर्णां पश्य मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् ॥ ९ ॥
“See the river Mandakini: here with water like a gem, there splendid with sandbanks, there crowded with siddhas.
निर्द्धूतान् वायुना पश्य विततान् पुष्पसञ्चयान् । पोप्लूयमानानपरान् पश्य त्वं जलमध्यगान् ॥ १० ॥
“See the heaps of flowers shaken down by the wind and spread out; see others floating in the middle of the water.
तांश्चातिवल्गुवचसो रथाङ्गाह्वयना द्विजाः । अधिरोहन्ति कल्याणि विकूजन्तः शुभा गिरः ॥ ११ ॥
“On them, auspicious one, the chakravaka birds, with very sweet voices, climb, calling lovely calls.
दर्शनं चित्र कूटस्य मन्दाकिन्याश्च शोभने । अधिकं पुरवासाच्च मन्ये च तव दर्शनात् ॥ १२ ॥
“The sight of Chitrakuta and the Mandakini, lovely one, I think is better than living in the city, because I see you.
विधूतकलुषैः सिद्धैस्तपोदमशमान्वितैः । नित्यविक्षोभितजलां विगाहस्व मया सह ॥ १३ ॥
“Bathe with me in this river, its water always stirred by siddhas whose sins are washed away, rich in austerity, self-control and calm.
सखीवच्च विगाहस्व सीते मन्दाकिनीं नदीम् । कमलान्यवमज्जन्ती पुष्कराणि च भामिनि ॥ १४ ॥
“Bathe in the river Mandakini like a friend, Sita, plunging among the blue and white lotuses, passionate one.
त्वं पौरजनवद्व्यालानयोध्यामिव पर्वतम् । मन्यस्व वनिते नित्यं सरयूवदिमां नदीम् ॥ १५ ॥
“Always think of the wild beasts as the townspeople, dear woman, the mountain as Ayodhya, and this river as the Sarayu.
लक्ष्मणश्चापि धर्मात्मा मन्निदेशे व्यवस्थितः । त्वं चानुकूला वैदेहि प्रीतिं जनयथो मम ॥ १६ ॥
“Righteous Lakshmana stands at my command, and you, Vaidehi, are devoted to me: you both create joy for me.
उपस्पृशंस्त्रिषवणं मधुमूलफलाशनः । नायोध्यायै न राज्याय स्पृहये ऽद्य त्वया सह ॥ १७ ॥
“Touching water three times a day, eating honey, roots and fruit, I do not long today for Ayodhya or for the kingdom, being with you.
इमां हि रम्यां मृगयूथशालिनीं निपीततोयां गजसिंहवानरैः । सुपुष्पितैः पुष्पधरैरलङ्कृतां न सो ऽस्ति यः स्यादगतक्लमः सुखी ॥ १८ ॥
“There is no one who would not be relieved of weariness and happy at this lovely river, rich in herds of deer, its water drunk by elephants, lions and monkeys, adorned with trees in full flower.”
इतीव रामो बहुसङ्गतं वचः प्रियासहायः सरितं प्रति ब्रुवन् । चचार रम्यं नयनाञ्जनप्रभं स चित्रकूटं रघुवंशवर्द्धनः ॥ १९ ॥
Speaking such fitting words to his beloved about the river, the increaser of the Raghu line wandered with her over lovely Chitrakuta, shining like collyrium.