Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 18
रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्
Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway
स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।।प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।।वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।।राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।
sa rājakulam āsādya megha-saṅghopamaiḥ śubhaiḥ || (2.17.17) prāsāda-śṛṅgair vividhaiḥ kailāsa-śikharopamaiḥ | āvārayadbhir gaganaṃ vimānair iva pāṇḍuraiḥ || (2.17.18) vardhamāna-gṛhaiś cāpi ratna-jāla-pariṣkṛtaiḥ | tat pṛthivyāṃ gṛha-varaṃ mahendra-sadanopamam || (2.17.19) rāja-putraḥ pitur veśma praviveśa śriyā jvalan ||
Rāma reached the royal residence: its many pale-white palace-towers, like masses of clouds and the peaks of Kailāsa, seemed like bright vimānas veiling the sky; its halls, ever expanding, were adorned with nets of gems. That finest mansion on earth was like Mahendra’s abode, and the prince entered his father’s palace, blazing with splendor.
That prince (Rama) arrived at the excellent palace of the king, which looked like the abode of Indra on earth, blazing with splendour. The various towers of the palace touching the sky resembled clusters of white clouds, like auspicious peaks of Kailasa, and like white aerial chariots decorated with gems.
FAQs
As a composite citation, it primarily supplies narrative setting; dharma is implicit in portraying the palace as the ordered seat of kingship where righteous decisions are to be enacted.
A repeated/combined presentation of the palace-description passage while Rama enters the royal residence.
Not a direct ethical maxim; it supports the portrayal of Rama’s rightful place within the royal dharmic order.