Shloka 13

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

तामश्वगजसम्पूर्णां रथध्वजविभूषिताम्।शशंस सेनां रामाय वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.96.13।।

Transliteration

tām aśvagajasampūrṇāṃ rathadhvajavibhūṣitām |

śaśaṃsa senāṃ rāmāya vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||2.96.13||

Translation

Er berichtete Rāma von jenem Heer, voll von Pferden und Elefanten, geschmückt mit Wagen und Bannern, und sprach dann diese Worte.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (army)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; refers to सेनाम्/चमूम्

• अश्वगजसम्पूर्णाम्: full of horses and elephants
• अश्वगजसम्पूर्णाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्व-गज-सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘filled with horses and elephants’

• रथध्वजविभूषिताम्: adorned with chariots and banners
• रथध्वजविभूषिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ-ध्वज-विभूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘adorned with chariots and banners’

• शशंस: reported
• शशंस: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘reported/told’

• सेनाम्: army
• सेनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; object of śaśaṁsa

• रामाय: to Rama
• रामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-एकवचन; dative ‘to Rama’

• वचनम्: words, statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; object of abravīt

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; demonstrative ‘this’

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘said’

Context

O noble one, put out the sacred fire (Agnihotra) and let Sita take refuge in the cave. String your bow and keep the arrows ready. Put on your armour.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Army (senā)
• Horses
• Elephants

FAQs

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

Satya and responsibility in counsel: conveying observations accurately to one’s leader so decisions can be made without confusion or rumor.

What is the narrative situation?

After sighting the approaching force, Lakṣmaṇa formally reports its appearance to Rāma and begins advising action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s duty-bound communication and readiness to advise.