Valmiki Ramayana 2.93.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 13

चित्रकूटमार्गवर्णनम्

Bharata’s Army Reaches Chitrakuta and Searches for Rama

Devanagari script

कुर्वन्ति कुसुमापीडान् शिरस्सु सुरभीनमी। मेघप्रकाशैः फलकैर्दाक्षिणात्या यथा नराः।।2.93.13।।

Transliteration

kurvanti kusumāpīḍān śirassu surabhīn amī | meghaprakāśaiḥ phalakaiḥ dākṣiṇātyā yathā narāḥ ||2.93.13||

Translation

Diese Bäume scheinen sich duftende Blumenkränze auf ihr „Haupt“ zu setzen, wie die Männer des Südens, die helle, wolkengleiche Schilde als Kopfschmuck tragen.

Word by Word

• कुर्वन्ति: they make
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• कुसुमापीडान्: flower-crowns/garlands
• कुसुमापीडान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम + आपीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कुसुम-आपीड (तत्पुरुष; ‘flower-garlands/crowns’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• शिरःसु: on (their) heads
• शिरःसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• सुरभीन्: fragrant
• सुरभीन्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण कुसुमापीडान्

• अमी: these (people/ones)
• अमी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (सर्वनाम) कर्तृपद

• मेघप्रकाशैः: bright like clouds
• मेघप्रकाशैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: मेघ-प्रकाश (तत्पुरुष; ‘cloud-bright’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण फलकैः

• फलकैः: with shields/plates
• फलकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• दाक्षिणात्याः: southerners
• दाक्षिणात्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षिणात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नराः इत्यस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Upamana-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as, just as)

• नराः: men, people
• नराः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

Context

Like the people of the south, the trees on the mountain ridges with branches, brilliant like clouds, are crowned with fragrant flowers as adornments.

Characters & Entities

• trees
• shields (phalaka)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is cultural literacy and non-contempt: the simile treats regional custom as a natural point of reference, implying respectful recognition of diverse practices within a shared world.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues describing the forest scenery, comparing flower-laden treetops to human adornment and regional attire.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Refined observation and respect for variety—seeing beauty through comparison rather than hostility.