Valmiki Ramayana 2.98.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 3

चित्रकूटप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters the Forest Toward Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

क्षिप्रं वनमिदं सौम्य नरसङ्घै स्समन्ततः।लुब्धैश्च सहितैरेभि स्त्वमन्वेषितुमर्हसि।।2.98.3।।

Transliteration

kṣipraṁ vanam idaṁ saumya narasaṅghaiḥ samantataḥ |

lubdhaiś ca sahitair ebhis tvam anveṣitum arhasi ||2.98.3||

Translation

Dear Satrughna, quickly search this forest on all sides, accompanied by bands of men—and with these hunters as well.

Word by Word

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverb: quickly)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वनम्’)

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• नरसङ्घैः: with groups of men
• नरसङ्घैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (नराणां सङ्घाः)

• समन्ततः: all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverb: on all sides)

• लुब्धैः: with hunters
• लुब्धैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सहितैः: accompanied
• सहितैः: Sahakāraka-anvaya (सहकारक-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with ‘नरसङ्घैः/लुब्धैः’ as ‘accompanied’)

• एभिः: with these
• एभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/With these)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्वेषितुम्: to search
• अन्वेषितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√इष्/अन्वेष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: should/are fit to
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

O dear Satrughna, you should explore this forest quickly along with groups of ourpeople and hunters as well.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• forest

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsible action: Bharata assigns urgent, organized service to locate Rama, showing that righteousness includes swift, practical effort in a crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

After reaching the forest-region in search of Rama, Bharata directs Śatrughna to conduct a rapid, wide-ranging search with men and hunters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s leadership and devotion to truth and duty—he mobilizes resources without delay to restore what is right.