Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 94, Shloka 20

चित्रकूटवर्णनम् (Description of Chitrakūṭa) / Rama Shows Sita Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

शिला श्शैलस्य शोभन्ते विशाला श्शतशोऽभितः।बहुला बहुलैर्वर्णैर्नीलपीतसितारुणैः।।।।

Transliteration

śilāḥ śailasya śobhante viśālāḥ śataśo 'bhitaḥ | bahulā bahulair varṇair nīlapītasitāruṇaiḥ ||

Translation

All around, hundreds of broad rocks upon the mountain shine splendidly, rich with many hues—dark-blue/black, yellow, white, and red.

Word by Word

• śilāḥ: rocks
• śilāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śailasya: of the mountain
• śailasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śobhante: shine/are splendid
• śobhante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (शोभते) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• viśālāḥ: vast
• viśālāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying śilāḥ

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds
• śataśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (परिमाणवाचक अव्यय)

• abhitaḥ: on all sides
• abhitaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhitaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (दिग्वाचक अव्यय)

• bahulāḥ: many/abundant
• bahulāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying śilāḥ

• bahulaiḥ: with many
• bahulaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying varṇaiḥ

• varṇaiḥ: colors
• varṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nīla-pīta-sita-aruṇaiḥ: with blue, yellow, white, and red (colors)
• nīla-pīta-sita-aruṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक) + pīta (प्रातिपदिक) + sita (प्रातिपदik) + aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (समाहार/itaretara): blue, yellow, white, red; Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन), qualifying varṇaiḥ

Context

Several hundreds of massive rocks of the mountain look splendid all around, in blue-black, yellow, white and red colours.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Citrakūṭa (context)

FAQs

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

The verse supports the dharmic attitude of santoṣa (contentment): by recognizing beauty and order in nature, one steadies the mind and lives truthfully with one’s circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma points out the natural splendor of Citrakūṭa, describing the many-colored rocks surrounding them.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Equanimity and appreciative awareness—Rāma turns exile into a contemplative experience rather than a grievance.