Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.27: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 27

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

नाद्यापि श्रूयते शब्दः मत्तानां मृगपक्षिणाम्।।2.71.27।।

संरक्तां मधुरां वाणीं कलं व्याहरतां बहु।

Transliteration

nādya api śrūyate śabdaḥ mattānāṃ mṛga-pakṣiṇām || 2.71.27 ||

saṃraktāṃ madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ kalaṃ vyāharatāṃ bahu |

Translation

Aún ahora no se oye sonido alguno de los animales y las aves—tantos de ellos—que en la luz bermeja del alba solían proferir voces dulces y melodiosas.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• अपि: even
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (even/also)

• श्रूयते: is heard
• श्रूयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): ‘is heard’

• शब्दः: sound
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मत्तानाम्: of excited/joyful
• मत्तानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; मृगपक्षिणाम्-विशेषण

• मृगपक्षिणाम्: of animals and birds
• मृगपक्षिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘मृगाश्च पक्षिणश्च’; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• संरक्ताम्: reddened/tinged
• संरक्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√रञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: PPP/क्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाणीम्-विशेषण

• मधुराम्: sweet
• मधुराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाणीम्-विशेषण

• वाणीम्: voice/speech
• वाणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कलम्: melodious
• कलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाणीम्-विशेषण (adjectival accusative)

• व्याहरताम्: of those singing/uttering
• व्याहरताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-आ-√हृ (धातु) + शतृ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; मृगपक्षिणाम्-विशेषण: ‘of those uttering/singing’

• बहु: much
• बहु: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial): ‘much/abundantly’

Context

I do not hear in the red tincture of the rising Sun the melodious voices of the freely moving animals and birds.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Sumantra
• Animals
• Birds

FAQs

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

Dharma is associated with harmony; when harmony breaks, even nature’s ordinary rhythms feel arrested. The silence functions as an ethical-psychological sign of communal distress.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama notes the absence of the usual dawn chorus of birds and animals around Ayodhya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s contemplative discernment: he recognizes subtle signs and seeks their meaning without rash action.