Valmiki Ramayana 2.86.19-21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 86, Shlokas 19-21

लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम् · Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony

Devanagari script

रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानां सुविभक्तमहापथाम् ।

हर्म्यप्रासादम्पन्नां सर्वरत्नविभूषिताम् ॥१९॥

गजाश्वरथसंबाधां तूर्यनादविनादिताम् ।

सर्वकल्याणसंपूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् ॥२०॥

आरामोद्यानसंपूर्णां समाजोत्सवशालिनीम् ।

सुखिता विचरिष्यन्ति राजधानीं पितुर्मम ॥२१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.86.19-21

Transliteration

ramyacatvarasaṃsthānāṃ suvibhaktamahāpathām |

harmyaprāsādasampannāṃ sarvaratnavibhūṣitām ||19||

gajāśvarathasaṃbādhāṃ tūryanādavināditām |

sarvakalyāṇasaṃpūrṇāṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulām ||20||

ārāmodyānasaṃpūrṇāṃ samājotsavaśālinīm |

sukhitā vicariṣyanti rājadhānīṃ pitur mama ||21||

Translation

In der Hauptstadt meines Vaters—schön mit lieblichen Plätzen und Kreuzungen, mit wohlgegliederten großen Straßen; reich an Herrenhäusern und Palästen, geschmückt mit allen Edelsteinen; dicht erfüllt von Elefanten, Pferden und Wagen; widerhallend von festlicher Musik; voll jeglichen Wohlergehens; gedrängt von frohen und kräftig gedeihenden Menschen; reich an Hainen, Gärten und Parks; strahlend von Versammlungen und Festen—werden die Leute in Ruhe und Behagen umhergehen.

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Word by Word

• ramya-catvara-saṃsthānām: having charming squares and junctions
• ramya-catvara-saṃsthānām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक) + catvara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (descriptive): रम्याणि चत्वराणि यस्याः सा (having lovely squares/crossroads as its layout)

• su-vibhakta-mahāpathām: with well-divided highways
• su-vibhakta-mahāpathām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + vibhakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + mahāpatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सुविभक्ताः महापथाः यस्याः (with well-laid great roads)

• harmya-prāsāda-saṃpannām: rich in mansions and palaces
• harmya-prāsāda-saṃpannām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harmya (प्रातिपदिक) + prāsāda (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: हर्म्यैः प्रासादैः च संपन्ना (endowed with mansions and palaces)

• sarva-ratna-vibhūṣitām: adorned with every jewel
• sarva-ratna-vibhūṣitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√bhūṣ (धातु) > vibhūṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): सर्वैः रत्नैः विभूषिता (adorned with all gems)

• gaja-aśva-ratha-saṃbādhām: thronged with elephants, horses, chariots
• gaja-aśva-ratha-saṃbādhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: गजैः अश्वैः रथैः संबाधा (crowded with elephants, horses, chariots)

• tūrya-nāda-vināditām: resounding with musical sounds
• tūrya-nāda-vināditām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-√nad (धातु) > vinādita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): तूर्यनादेन विनादिता (resounded by instrumental music)

• sarva-kalyāṇa-saṃpūrṇām: full of every prosperity
• sarva-kalyāṇa-saṃpūrṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kalyāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सर्वैः कल्याणैः संपूर्णा (complete with all auspiciousness)

• hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-jana-ākulām: crowded with joyful, healthy people
• hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-jana-ākulām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + puṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: हृष्टैः पुष्टैः जनैः आकुला (crowded with happy and well-nourished people)

• ārāma-udyāna-saṃpūrṇām: abounding in gardens and parks
• ārāma-udyāna-saṃpūrṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārāma (प्रातिपदिक) + udyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: आरामैः उद्यानैः संपूर्णा (filled with gardens and parks)

• samāja-utsava-śālinīm: splendid with public festivities
• samāja-utsava-śālinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samāja (प्रातिपदिक) + utsava (प्रातिपदिक) + śālinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: समाजोत्सवैः शालिनी (graced by public festivals)

• sukhitāḥ: happy/at ease
• sukhitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used as predicate adjective of implied people (they)

• vicariṣyanti: will roam about
• vicariṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√car (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल/Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• rājadhānīm: the capital city
• rājadhānīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājadhānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• pituḥ: of (my) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Context

There in the capital of my father with its lovely cross-roads and squares, well-laid highways, full of mansions and palaces encrusted with all kinds of precious stones, teeming with elephants, horses and chariots, resounding with trumpets, and with well-being everywhere, and plenty of pleasure-gardens, and parks and community festivals, people sound in health would be moving about in great comfort.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā (implied by rājadhānīṃ pitur mama)

FAQs

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

The verse evokes rājadhrama/ideal civic order: a righteous realm is marked by safety, prosperity, public joy, and the well-being of ordinary people.

What is the narrative situation?

In the midst of exile and uncertainty, the speaker recalls the splendor and social harmony of the capital, imagining people living and moving about happily.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A value for public welfare and ordered society—measuring a kingdom’s greatness by the flourishing of its people.