Shloka 2.99.21

चित्रकूटप्राप्तिः — Bharata Reaches Chitrakuta and Beholds Rama

Devanagari script

एवं संविलपं स्तस्मिन्वने दशरथात्मजः।ददर्श महातीं पुण्यां पर्णशालां मनोरमाम्।।2.99.18।।सालतालाश्वकर्णानां पर्णैर्बहुभिरावृताम्।विशालां मृदुभिस्तीर्णां कुशैर्वेदिमिवाध्वरे।।2.99.19।।शक्रायुधनिकाशैश्च कार्मुकैर्भारसाधनैः।रुक्मपृष्ठैर्महासारै श्शोभितां शत्रुबाधकैः।।2.99.20।।अर्क रश्मि प्रतीकाशैर्घोरैस्तूणीगतैश्शरैः।शोभितां दीप्तवदनै स्सर्पैर्भोगवतीमिव।।2.99.21।।महारजतवासोभ्यामसिभ्यां च विराजिताम्।रुक्मबिन्दुविचित्राभ्यां चर्मभ्यां चापि शोभिताम्।।2.99.22।।गोधाङ्गुळित्रैरासक्तैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनभूषितैः।अरिसंघैरनाधृष्यां मृगै स्सिंहगुहा मिव।।2.99.23।।

Transliteration

arka-raśmi-pratīkāśair ghorais tūṇī-gataiḥ śaraiḥ |

śobhitāṃ dīpta-vadanaiḥ sarpair bhogavatīm iva || 2.99.21 ||

Translation

It was adorned with dreadful arrows, stored in quivers and gleaming like the sun’s rays—like Bhogavatī, the serpent-city, radiant with serpents whose hoods blaze with light.

Context

Lamenting in this way Bharata beheld in that forest an excellent, sacred and enchanting hut covered with a lot of leaves of sala, palmyra and aswakarna trees like a sacrificial altar spread with soft kusa grass. Goldplated bows that resembled the thunderbolt of Indra, powerful and capable of achieving great targets and oppressing the enemies, adorned the hut. Arrows glittering like the rays of the Sun, were dreadful, with blazing heads and stored in quivers adorned it like the hooded serpents illumining the city of Bhogavati (in the nether world). A pair of swords in scabbards made of excellent silver, two shields of different colours with golden spots, fingerguards made of skin of iguana decorated with gold were hanging there. It was impregnable to enemy hordes like the cave of a lion to the deer.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• Bhogavatī
• arrows (śara)
• quivers (tūṇī)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is shown as disciplined readiness: even in exile, Rama’s life is ordered and vigilant, using strength only to protect righteousness, not for display.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata, searching for Rama in the forest, comes upon Rama’s leaf-hut and notices its martial preparedness—quivers and radiant arrows—signaling Rama’s protective presence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s vīrya (steadfast valor) guided by dharma: power remains controlled, purposeful, and aligned with protection of the righteous.