Valmiki Ramayana 2.114.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 12

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

पुष्पनद्धां वसन्तान्ते मत्तभ्रमरनादिताम्। द्रुतदावाग्नि विप्लुष्टां क्लान्तां वनलतामिव।।2.114.12।।

Transliteration

puṣpa-naddhāṃ vasantānte matta-bhramara-nāditām | druta-dāvāgni-vipluṣṭāṃ klāntāṃ vanalatām iva ||

Translation

Ayodhyā parecía una enredadera del bosque: antes enguirnaldada de flores al fin de la primavera y sonora con el zumbido de abejas embriagadas, y ahora, de pronto, chamuscada por un incendio veloz—marchita y exhausta.

Word by Word

• पुष्पनद्धाम्: laden with flowers
• पुष्पनद्धाम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प + नद्ध (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पैः नद्धा/नद्धाम्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘bound/covered with flowers’

• वसन्तान्ते: at the end of spring
• वसन्तान्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्त + अन्त (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वसन्तस्य अन्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/in), एकवचन

• मत्तभ्रमरनादिताम्: humming with intoxicated bees
• मत्तभ्रमरनादिताम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त + भ्रमर + नादित (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; नादित (णिच्/कृदन्त ‘made to sound’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘resounding with intoxicated bees’

• द्रुतदावाग्निविप्लुष्टाम्: ravaged by a fast forest fire
• द्रुतदावाग्निविप्लुष्टाम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रुत + दावाग्नि + विप्लुष्ट (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः; विप्लुष्ट (क्त, ‘burnt/scorched’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘scorched by fast forest-fire’

• क्लान्ताम्: withered, exhausted
• क्लान्ताम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘weary/withered’

• वनलताम्: a forest creeper
• वनलताम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + लता (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (वने लता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमा-सूचक)

Context

with the melodious humming of intoxicated bees and suddenly shrivelling, ravaged by the fast-spreading forest fire.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

The simile teaches impermanence: worldly flourishing can be undone quickly when dharmic stability is disrupted; hence rulers must protect order and truth to prevent ‘wildfire’ collapse.

What is the narrative situation?

The city is portrayed as having abruptly lost its former joy and beauty, paralleling the royal crisis and separation from Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the protective duty of leadership—steadfast dharma prevents sudden ruin.