Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 13

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

न हि तस्मान्मनः कश्चिच्चक्षुषी वा नरोत्तमात्।।।।नर श्शक्नोत्यपाक्रष्टुमतिक्रान्तेऽपि राघवे।

Transliteration

na hi tasmān manaḥ kaścit cakṣuṣī vā narottamāt | naraḥ śaknoty apākraṣṭum atikrānte 'pi rāghave ||

Translation

Selbst als Rāghava schon vorübergegangen war, vermochte kein Mensch von jenem Besten der Männer weder den Geist noch auch nur die Augen abzuwenden.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय-निषेध)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय-निपात)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• tasmāt: from him
• tasmāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (Abl. sg.)

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (मनस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.)

• kaścit: anyone
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• cakṣuṣī: (his) two eyes
• cakṣuṣī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (चक्षुस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा द्विवचन (Acc./Nom. du.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive 'or')

• narottamāt: from the best of men
• narottamāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (नर) + uttama (उत्तम)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः नरः), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन (Abl. sg.)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (नर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• śaknoti: is able
• śaknoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (शक्-धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• apākraṣṭum: to withdraw
• apākraṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-ā-kṛṣ (अप+आ+कृष्-धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to draw away/withdraw'

• atikrānte: when (he) had passed by
• atikrānte: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-kram (अति+क्रम्-धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (even/also)

• rāghave: in/with regard to Raghava (Rama)
• rāghave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (राघव-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg.)

Context

Even though Rama, the best among men had driven past them none was able to withdraw his mind or eyes from him. (They continued).

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rama)

FAQs

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

True dharma generates natural reverence: the people’s attention follows Rama because moral excellence compels respect without coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama proceeds through the city, the onlookers remain captivated; even after he passes, they cannot stop watching or thinking of him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Exemplary righteousness (narottamatva): Rama’s conduct inspires sustained admiration and trust.