Shloka 2.80.10

मर्गनिर्माणम् (Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata)

Devanagari script

बबन्धुर्बन्धनीयांश्च क्षोद्यान्सञ्चुक्षुदुस्तदा।बिभिदुर्भेदनीयांश्च तांस्तान्देशान्नरा स्तदा।।।।

Transliteration

babandhur bandhanīyāṃś ca kṣodyān sañcukṣudus tadā |

bibhidur bhedanīyāṃś ca tāṃs tān deśān narās tadā ||

Translation

Then the men bridged what needed bridging, crushed what had to be crushed, and split open what required splitting—clearing and opening up those stretches of the route.

Context

People threw bridges at places that needed to be bridged. They pulverised stones that obstructed the path and split open big stones to drain out water.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (implied by sarga context)
• route/roadworks (deśa, path preparation)

FAQs

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

Duty expressed as practical service: removing obstacles and making passage safe is a dharmic act of care for travelers and the larger community.

What is the narrative situation?

Workers prepare difficult sections of the way by bridging gaps and breaking down physical impediments along the route.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Diligence and collective responsibility—people undertake hard, coordinated labor to fulfill a larger mission.