Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.21 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 21

अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः

Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined

Devanagari script

एवं तज्जनसम्बाधं राजमार्गं पुरोहितः।व्यूहन्निव जनौघं तं शनै राजकुलं ययौ।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ tajjanasambādhaṃ rājamārgaṃ purohitaḥ |

vyūhann iva janaughaṃ taṃ śanai rājākulaṃ yayau ||

Translation

وهكذا، إذ رأى الكاهنُ الملكيُّ الطريقَ السلطانيَّ مكتظًّا بالناس، مضى بتمهّلٍ نحو القصر، كأنّه يشقُّ سيلَ البشر إلى مجريين.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• तत्-जन-सम्बाधम्: that (road) crowded with people
• तत्-जन-सम्बाधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बाध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः: 'जनसम्बाधः' = जनैः सम्बाधः (बहुजनसङ्कुलः)

• राजमार्गम्: the royal road
• राजमार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः मार्गः)

• पुरोहितः: the priest
• पुरोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यूहन्: dividing/arranging (the crowd)
• व्यूहन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यूह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियासहचर (concomitant action)

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• जन-ओघम्: the mass of people
• जन-ओघम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जनानाम् ओघः)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• राजकुलम्: the royal palace
• राजकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः कुलम्/राजगृहम्)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

The priest (Vasistha), beholding the overcrowded highway forced his passage through the crowds of men dividing them into two tracts and slowly entered the royal palace.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• rājamārga (royal road)

FAQs

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

Dharma as orderly action amid crowds: duty is fulfilled without violence or haste, maintaining respect for people while proceeding toward sacred civic work.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha makes his way through the packed streets, slowly progressing to the royal palace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s composure and disciplined purpose—calmly executing priestly responsibility in a charged public setting.