Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 8

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

अपरे वीरणस्तम्भान्बलिनो बलवत्तराः।विधमन्ति स्म दुर्गाणि स्थलानि च ततस्ततः।।।।

Transliteration

apare vīraṇastambhān balino balavattarāḥ | vidhamanti sma durgāṇi sthalāni ca tatas tataḥ ||

Translation

Otros—hombres fuertes, más fuertes aún—arrancaban los recios macizos de hierba vīraṇa y, aquí y allá, allanaban los tramos difíciles del terreno.

Word by Word

• apare: others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (अपर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'others'

• vīraṇa-stambhān: tufts of vīraṇa grass
• vīraṇa-stambhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīraṇa + stambha (वीरण + स्तम्भ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: vīraṇasya stambhāḥ (clumps/tufts of vīraṇa grass)

• balinaḥ: strong
• balinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (बलिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of apare

• balavattarāḥ: stronger
• balavattarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (बलवत्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; comparative degree (तर)

• vidhamanti: remove / clear away
• vidhamanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √dham (धम्, to blow/shake off/remove)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• sma: (indeed/used to)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Aspect marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; past-habitual particle used with present/imperfect (स्म-निपात)

• durgāṇi: difficult/impassable spots
• durgāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durga (दुर्ग-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• sthalāni: uneven grounds / places
• sthalāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthala (स्थल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• tataḥ: from there / here
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देशवाचक)

• tataḥ: there and there
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; repetition for distributive sense 'here and there'

Context

Some other stronger men, plucked the strong-rooted tufts of fragrant grass. Here and there they made impassable terrains even.

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as service through effort: removing obstacles and making difficult terrain accessible, reflecting concern for the safety and ease of others.

What is the narrative situation?

Stronger workers clear stubborn vegetation and even out hazardous or obstructed ground as part of broader preparations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strength directed toward constructive ends—using power to protect and assist the community rather than to dominate.