Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 18

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

एष वै सुमहाञ्छ्रीमान्विटपी सम्प्रकाशते।विराजत्युद्गतस्कन्धं कोविदारध्वजो रथे।।2.96.18।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.96.18

Transliteration

eṣa vai sumahāñ chrīmān viṭapī samprakāśate |

virājat y udgataskandhaṃ kovidāradhvajo rathe ||2.96.18||

Translation

“চোৱা—অতি মহান আৰু শ্ৰীমন্ত বৃক্ষ সদৃশ ধ্বজ প্ৰকাশ পাইছে; ৰথত কোবিদাৰ-বৃক্ষৰ ধ্বজ, উচ্চকৈ উঠা কাণ্ডসহ, দীপ্তিমানে বিরাজ কৰিছে।”

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Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• sumahān: very great, huge
• sumahān: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-mahat (सु+महत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of viṭapī

• śrīmān: splendid, majestic
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (श्रीमत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of viṭapī

• viṭapī: tree
• viṭapī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭapin (विटपिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• samprakāśate: shines forth, appears clearly
• samprakāśate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-kāś (सम्+प्र+काश् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• virājati: shines, is resplendent
• virājati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-rāj (वि+राज् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• udgata-skandham: with an upraised trunk
• udgata-skandham: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udgata (उद्गत) + skandha (स्कन्ध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used adverbially/qualifying the ‘tree/standard’ imagery: ‘with raised trunk’

• kovidāra-dhvajaḥ: the Kovidara-bannered (standard)
• kovidāra-dhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kovidāra (कोविदार) + dhvaja (ध्वज) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘kovidārasya dhvajaḥ’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• rathe: on the chariot
• rathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (रथ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Context

There the emblem of the great Kovidara tree of very large trunk spread with many branches shines brilliantly atop the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Chariot (ratha)
• Banner/standard (dhvaja)

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance and war includes clear insignia and accountability—identifying forces truthfully to avoid unjust action.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa points to a distinctive banner on a chariot as evidence for identifying the approaching leader/army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive observation—using concrete signs rather than vague fear.