Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.6: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 6

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

लतावल्ली श्च गुल्मांश्च स्थाणूनश्मन एव च ।

जनायांचक्रिरे मार्गं छिन्दन्तो विविधान्द्रुमान् ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.80.6

Transliteration

latāvallīś ca gulmāṃś ca sthāṇūn aśmana eva ca |

janāyāṃ cakrire mārgaṃ chindanto vividhān drumān ||6||

Translation

Indem sie Ranken und Gestrüpp abschnitten, Stümpfe und selbst Felsblöcke entfernten und verschiedene Bäume fällten, bahnten die Männer des Königs dem Volk einen freien Weg.

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Word by Word

• latā-vallīḥ: creepers and vines
• latā-vallīḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: latā + vallī (लता + वल्ली-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; dvandva: latāś ca vallayaś ca

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• gulmān: shrubs
• gulmān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gulma (गुल्म-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• sthāṇūn: stumps / branchless trees
• sthāṇūn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāṇu (स्थाणु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• aśmanaḥ: rocks / boulders
• aśmanaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśman (अश्मन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana (Vedic/epic usage; often aśmān/aśmanaḥ as acc. pl.); object coordinated with sthāṇūn

• eva: indeed / also
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निपात)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• janāyām: for the people / among the populace
• janāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janā (जना-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; adhikaraṇa 'among the people/for the populace' (epic locative for purpose/context)

• cakrire: made / constructed
• cakrire: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, to do/make)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; ātmanepada (cakrire)

• mārgam: road / path
• mārgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (मार्ग-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• chindantaḥ: cutting / hewing
• chindantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (छिद्, to cut)
• Form: Śatṛ present active participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agreeing with implied agents (workers)

• vividhān: various
• vividhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (विविध-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying drumān

• drumān: trees
• drumān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: druma (द्रुम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

Context

Clearing and cutting branches of various trees and creepers, shrubs, plants branchless trees and hewing boulders, the road was paved by the king's men.

FAQs

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

Service-oriented dharma: removing obstacles so others may travel safely mirrors the moral duty to reduce harm and enable the community’s well-being.

What is the narrative situation?

Workers physically clear the route—vegetation, stumps, stones, and trees—to make a usable road.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Diligence and seva (service): hard, practical labor undertaken for the benefit of the wider populace.