Shloka 29

Raghunātha’s Entry into the City

Ayodhyā Festival Preparations and Procession

Devanagari script

प्रविवेश वरं मार्गं रथ्याचत्वरभूषितम् । चंदनोदकसंसिक्तं पुष्पपल्लवसंयुतम्

Transliteration

praviveśa varaṃ mārgaṃ rathyācatvarabhūṣitam | caṃdanodakasaṃsiktaṃ puṣpapallavasaṃyutam

Translation

Il s’engagea sur une voie excellente, ornée de rues et de places, aspergée d’eau parfumée au santal, et jonchée de fleurs et de jeunes feuilles.

Word by Word

• प्रविवेश: entered
• प्रविवेश: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• वरम्: excellent
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• मार्गम्: road, path
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• रथ्या-चत्वर-भूषितम्: adorned with streets and squares
• रथ्या-चत्वर-भूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ्या (प्रातिपदिक) + चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त, भूष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त/क्त (past passive participle)

• चन्दन-उदक-संसिक्तम्: sprinkled with sandal-water
• चन्दन-उदक-संसिक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + संसिक्त (कृदन्त, सिच् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त/क्त (past passive participle)

• पुष्प-पल्लव-संयुतम्: decorated with flowers and sprouts
• पुष्प-पल्लव-संयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त, युज् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त/क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Narrator (context not supplied for definitive dialogue attribution)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: रथ्याचत्वरभूषितम् → रथ्या-चत्वर-भूषितम्; चंदनोदकसंसिक्तम् → चन्दन-उदक-संसिक्तम्; पुष्पपल्लवसंयुतम् → पुष्प-पल्लव-संयुतम्

FAQs

What is the significance of sprinkling sandal-scented water (candanodaka) in this verse?

It evokes ritual purification and auspicious hospitality—cooling, sanctifying, and beautifying the path for a revered arrival or sacred procession.

What do rathyā and catvara indicate about the setting?

They suggest an urban or well-planned settlement with thoroughfares and public squares—an emphasized grandeur rather than a wilderness scene.

What devotional or ethical mood is conveyed by the floral decorations?

The verse conveys reverence and celebration: preparing a purified, beautiful way expresses honor toward the arriving person and a culture of respectful reception.