Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 20

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

प्रावृषि प्रविगाढायां प्रविष्टस्याभ्रमण्डलम्। प्रच्छन्नां नीलजीमूतैर्भास्करस्य प्रभामिव।।2.114.20।।

Transliteration

prāvṛṣi pravigāḍhāyāṃ praviṣṭasyābhramaṇḍalam | pracchannāṃ nīlajīmūtair bhāskarasya prabhām iva || 2.114.20 ||

Translation

Tel l’éclat du soleil, dissimulé par les sombres nuées de pluie lorsque la mousson s’est épaissie et que la voûte du ciel s’emplit de nuages—ainsi paraissait-il, voilé et obscurci.

Word by Word

• प्रावृषि: in the rainy season
• प्रावृषि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रावृष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/in), एकवचन; ‘in the rainy season’

• प्रविगाढायाम्: when (it is) deep/intense
• प्रविगाढायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वि + गाढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘when it is deep/intense’ (agreeing with प्रावृषि)

• प्रविष्टस्य: of (one) entered
• प्रविष्टस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/of), एकवचन; ‘of (the sun) entered (into cloud-orb)’

• अभ्रमण्डलम्: the orb/mass of clouds
• अभ्रमण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म) (गम्य-सम्बन्धः: ‘entered into’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्र + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (अभ्रस्य मण्डलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रच्छन्नाम्: obscured
• प्रच्छन्नाम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + छद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered, obscured’

• नीलजीमूतैः: by dark clouds
• नीलजीमूतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + जीमूत (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (नीलाः जीमूताः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/by), बहुवचन

• भास्करस्य: of the sun
• भास्करस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/of), एकवचन

• प्रभाम्: radiance
• प्रभाम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Bhāskara (Sun)

FAQs

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

Dharma is symbolized as light; when circumstances of injustice prevail, that light is not destroyed but concealed—suggesting hope that truth (satya) can re-emerge.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhya’s former brilliance is described as veiled, using the monsoon-and-sun metaphor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s association with clarity and righteousness is implied: his absence makes the city’s ‘radiance’ seem covered.