Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 14

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

ससुधाकुट्टिमतलः प्रपुष्पितमहीरुहः।मत्तोद्घुष्ट द्विजगणः पताकाभिरलङ्कृतः।।2.80.13।।चन्दनोदकसंसिक्तो नानाकुसुमभूषितः।बह्वशोभत सेनायाः पन्था स्सुरपथोपमः।।2.80.14।।

Transliteration

sasudhākuṭṭimatalaḥ prapuṣpitamahīruhaḥ |

mattodghuṣṭa-dvijagaṇaḥ patākābhir alaṅkṛtaḥ || 2.80.13 ||

candanodakasaṃsikto nānākusumabhūṣitaḥ |

bahv aśobhata senāyāḥ panthāḥ surapathopamaḥ || 2.80.14 ||

Translation

كان طريقُ الجيش يلمع بهاءً: مُمهَّدًا مطليًّا بالجِصّ، تصطفّ على جانبيه الأشجارُ المزهرة، وتحييه أصواتُ الطيور؛ مُزيَّنًا بالرايات، مُرشوشًا بماء الصندل، ومفروشًا بأزهارٍ شتّى—كطريقٍ من طرق الآلهة.

Word by Word

• चन्दन-उदक-संसिक्तः: sprinkled with sandal-water
• चन्दन-उदक-संसिक्तः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + संसिक्त (कृदन्त; √सिच् (धातु) )
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—चन्दनोदकेन संसिक्तः

• नाना-कुसुम-भूषितः: adorned with various flowers
• नाना-कुसुम-भूषितः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् (धातु) )
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—नानाविधैः कुसुमैः भूषितः

• बहु: greatly, very much
• बहु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अशोभत: shone, looked splendid
• अशोभत: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सेनायाः: of the army
• सेनायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पन्थाः: the road, highway
• पन्थाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-प्रातिपदिक (पथिन्-शब्द)

• सुर-पथ-उपमः: like the path of the gods
• सुर-पथ-उपमः: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सुराणां पथ इव उपमः (सदृशः)

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)

FAQs

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

The verse reinforces dharma as orderly preparation and respectful conduct: public spaces are made safe, pure, and auspicious, reflecting collective responsibility under righteous administration.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated/expanded presentation (as transmitted in this recension) describes the beautified and purified highway prepared for the army’s movement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and reverence—doing necessary work with care, beauty, and auspiciousness rather than mere expedience.