Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 20

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

भजन्त्येते यथाकाममश्वानारुह्य शीघ्रगान्।एते भ्राजन्ति संहृष्टा गजानारुह्य सादिनः।।2.96.20।।

Transliteration

bhajanty ete yathākāmam aśvān āruhya śīghragān |

ete bhrājanti saṃhṛṣṭā gajān āruhya sādinaḥ ||2.96.20||

Translation

Diese, auf schnellen Pferden sitzend, bewegen sich nach Belieben; und jene Elefantenreiter, auf den Elefanten, glänzen, von freudigem Mut erfüllt.

Word by Word

• bhajanti: resort to, engage in, move about
• bhajanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (भज् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• ete: these (men)
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• yathā-kāmam: as they please
• yathā-kāmam: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (यथा) + kāma (काम) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: ‘according to desire’; indeclinable adverb

• aśvān: horses
• aśvān: Karma (कर्म) (object of āruhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (अश्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• āruhya: having mounted
• āruhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (आ+रुह् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having mounted’

• śīghra-gān: swift-moving
• śīghra-gān: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra (शीघ्र) + ga (ग) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद/कर्मधारय-like): ‘swift-going’; Masculine, Accusative, Plural; adjective of aśvān

• ete: these (others)
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• bhrājanti: shine
• bhrājanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhrāj (भ्राज् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural

• saṃhṛṣṭāḥ: joyful, exhilarated
• saṃhṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-hṛṣ (सम्+हृष् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘delighted’

• gajān: elephants
• gajān: Karma (कर्म) (object of āruhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (गज प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• āruhya: having mounted
• āruhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-ruh (आ+रुह् धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्)

• sādinaḥ: riders (mounted warriors)
• sādinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādin (सादिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

These men mounted on swiftly-moving horses are following the post. The riders of elephants mounted on the elephants look cheerful.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Horses
• Elephants
• Army

FAQs

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

Dharma in conflict situations includes accurate situational awareness—observing discipline, movement, and morale before choosing a response.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa describes the cavalry and elephant corps as they advance, noting their freedom of movement and confident demeanor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s attentiveness to practical details—an aspect of protective duty.