Chapter 12 — Uttara Kanda, Sarga 12

Valmiki Ramayana — Uttara Kanda

Verse 12.17

तीरे तु सरसो वै तु संजज्ञे मानसस्य हि॥ सरस्तदा मानसं तु ववृधे जलदागमे। मात्रा तु तस्याः कन्यायाः स्नेहेनाक्रन्दितं वचः॥ सरो मा वर्धतेत्युक्तं ततः सा सरमाभवत्।

tīre tu saraso vai tu saṃjajñe mānasasya hi|| sarastadā mānasaṃ tu vavṛdhe jaladāgame| mātrā tu tasyāḥ kanyāyāḥ snehenākranditaṃ vacaḥ|| saro mā vardhatetyuktaṃ tataḥ sā saramābhavat|

English Meaning

Saramā was born on the shores of the lake, Mānasa, was swollen with water on the arrival of the rains, her mother, hearing her cries, affectionately said, Saro mā varddhata 'O lake, do not swell,' and from this circumstance, her name became Saramā.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)