Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 10

अयोध्यायाः शोकवर्णनम्

Ayodhya’s Lament and Civic Desolation

Devanagari script

शोभयिष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थमटव्यो रम्यकाननाः।आपगाश्च महानूपाः सानुमन्तश्च पर्वताः।।2.48.10।।

Transliteration

śobhayiṣyanti kākutstham aṭavyo ramya-kānanāḥ |

āpagāś ca mahānūpāḥ sānumantaś ca parvatāḥ || 2.48.10 ||

Translation

Forests rich with lovely groves, broad-flowing rivers, and mountains with gentle slopes will lend added splendour to Kakutstha’s scion, Rama, in his forest-dwelling.

Word by Word

• śobhayiṣyanti: will adorn; will enhance
• śobhayiṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śubh (धातु) [causative: śobhay-]
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural; causative (णिच्)

• kākutstham: Kākutstha (Rama)
• kākutstham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• aṭavyaḥ: forests
• aṭavyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṭavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ramyakānanāḥ: with lovely groves
• ramyakānanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya-kānana (प्रातिपदिक; ramya + kānana)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying aṭavyaḥ

• āpagāḥ: rivers
• āpagāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• mahānūpāḥ: with vast watery stretches
• mahānūpāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-anūpa (प्रातिपदिक; mahā + anūpa)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying āpagāḥ; anūpa = watery tract/river-bank region

• sānumantaḥ: having slopes
• sānumantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-anumat (प्रातिपदिक; sa + anumant)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifying parvatāḥ; 'having slopes/ridges'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• parvatāḥ: mountains
• parvatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

Forests with beautiful groves rivers with vast expanse of waters, mountains with their slopes will enhance the lustre of the scion of the Kakutsthas (Rama).

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Kākutstha)
• forests (aṭavyaḥ)
• rivers (āpagāḥ)
• mountains (parvatāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as so luminous that even exile does not diminish it; rather, the natural world becomes a fitting setting that honours righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

People reflect on Rama’s coming forest life and console themselves that the wilderness—forests, rivers, and mountains—will suit and adorn him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s inner splendour and steadfastness: his dignity is such that any place he inhabits becomes ennobled.