Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 13

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

ससुधाकुट्टिमतलः प्रपुष्पितमहीरुहः।मत्तोद्घुष्ट द्विजगणः पताकाभिरलङ्कृतः।।।।चन्दनोदकसंसिक्तो नानाकुसुमभूषितः।बह्वशोभत सेनायाः पन्था स्सुरपथोपमः।।।।

Transliteration

sasudhākuṭṭimatalaḥ prapuṣpitamahīruhaḥ |

mattodghuṣṭa-dvijagaṇaḥ patākābhir alaṅkṛtaḥ ||

candanodakasaṃsikto nānākusumabhūṣitaḥ |

bahv aśobhata senāyāḥ panthāḥ surapathopamaḥ ||

Translation

كان طريقُ الجيش يتلألأ بهاءً: أرضُه مُمهَّدةٌ مُلساءُ مطليةٌ بالجِصّ، تصطفّ على جانبيه الأشجارُ المزهرة، وتتعالى فيه أصواتُ أسرابِ الطيورِ في نشيدٍ طروب؛ مُزيَّنٌ بالرايات، مُرشوشٌ بماءٍ معطَّرٍ بخشبِ الصندل، مُكلَّلٌ بأزهارٍ شتّى—كأنّه سبيلُ الآلهة.

Word by Word

• स-सुधा-कुट्टिम-तलः: having a floor of lime-plaster mosaic
• स-सुधा-कुट्टिम-तलः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + कुट्टिम (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्यान्तर्गतं सुधाकुट्टिमतलं अस्ति सः

• प्र-पुष्पित-महीरुहः: with trees in full bloom
• प्र-पुष्पित-महीरुहः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + पुष्पित (कृदन्त; √पुष्प्/पुष्प (धातु) ) + महीरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्मिन् प्रपुष्पिताः महीरुहाः सन्ति सः

• मत्त-उद्घुष्ट-द्विज-गणः: resounding with flocks of intoxicated/singing birds
• मत्त-उद्घुष्ट-द्विज-गणः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्घुष्ट (कृदन्त; √घुष् (धातु) ) + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्मिन् मत्तैः द्विजगणैः उद्घुष्टं (नादितं) सः

• पताकाभिः: with banners/flags
• पताकाभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• अलङ्कृतः: decorated
• अलङ्कृतः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + अलम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Context

The highway for the army was paved smooth, with its surface decorated with mosaic. It was lined with blossoming trees with flocks of birds intoxicated with singing. It was decked with banners and sprinkled with sandal water and a strewn with flowers of every kind. Like the path of gods, the highway shone with brilliance.

Characters & Entities

• senā (army)
• patākā (banners)
• candana (sandal)
• dvija (birds)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as respectful hospitality and public order: the route is not merely functional but purified and beautified, reflecting reverence for the traveler and the collective discipline of a well-governed realm.

What is the narrative situation?

The road prepared for the moving force is described as carefully paved, decorated, and ritually refreshed with scented water and flowers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and refinement—careful attention to cleanliness, beauty, and auspiciousness in public arrangements.