Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 16

दशरथस्य अन्त्येष्टि

विधानम् — Dasaratha’s Funeral Rites and Ayodhya’s Mourning

Devanagari script

चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान् सरलं पद्मकं तथा।देवदारूणि चाहृत्य क्षेपयन्ति तथापरे।।2.76.16।।गन्धानुच्चावचांश्चान्यां स्तत्र गत्वाथ भूमिपम्।तत्र संवेशयामासुश्चितामध्ये तमृत्विजः।।2.76.17।।

Transliteration

candana-agaru-niryāsān saralaṁ padmakaṁ tathā | devadārūṇi cāhṛtya kṣepayanti tathāpare || 2.76.16 ||

gandhān uccāvacāṁś cānyān tatra gatvātha bhūmipam | tatra saṁveśayāmāsuś citā-madhye tam ṛtvijaḥ || 2.76.17 ||

Translation

আন কিছুমানে চন্দন, আগৰু, সুগন্ধি নিৰ্যাস, সৰল, পদ্মক আৰু দেৱদাৰু আদি কাঠ আনি তাত ছটিয়ালে; আন বহু সুগন্ধিৰ সৈতে সেই স্থানলৈ গৈ ঋত্বিকসকলে ৰজাৰ দেহক চিতাৰ মাজভাগত যথাবিধি স্থাপন কৰিলে।

Word by Word

• चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान्: sandal, agaru, and resins
• चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Masculine, Accusative, Plural; copulative compound: sandal, agaru, resins)

• सरलम्: sarala wood/tree
• सरलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• पद्मकम्: padmaka wood/tree
• पद्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• देवदारूणि: devadāru woods
• देवदारूणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive: having brought)

• क्षेपयन्ति: they throw/scatter
• क्षेपयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada)

• तथा: similarly
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: similarly)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

Context

In this way others brought sandal, agaru and fragrant gum gugul, the resin of balsa tree and woods of sarala, padmaka and devadaru and built a pyre and strew many kinds of fragrant substances on it. Thereafter the priests laid the mortal remains of the king in the centre of the pyre.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛtvij (priests)
• Daśaratha (bhūmipa, implied)
• Citā (funeral pyre)
• Candana (sandalwood)
• Agaru
• Gandha (perfumes)

FAQs

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

Dharma is enacted through meticulous rites and reverent preparation; truthfulness (satya) here is fidelity to sacred custom and honoring the deceased with care.

What is the narrative situation?

Perfumed woods and resins are gathered and strewn to prepare the pyre; the priests place the king’s body at its center.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and precision—ritual specialists and attendants show respect through careful, rule-aligned preparation.