Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 11

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

व्यजनाभ्यां च मुख्याभ्यां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणम्।चन्द्रहंसप्रकाशाभ्यां वीज्यते न तवाननम्।।।।

Transliteration

vyajanābhyāṃ ca mukhyābhyāṃ śata-patra-nibhekṣaṇam | candra-haṃsa-prakāśābhyāṃ vījyate na tavānanam ||

Translation

Comment se fait-il qu’aujourd’hui ton visage—aux yeux pareils aux lotus—ne soit pas éventé par de nobles éventails, luisant comme la lune ou comme un cygne ?

Word by Word

• vyajanābhyām: by two fans
• vyajanābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• mukhyābhyām: excellent/chief
• mukhyābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; vyajanābhyām-विशेषण

• śata-patra-nibha-īkṣaṇam: lotus-eyed
• śata-patra-nibha-īkṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + nibha (प्रातिपदिक) + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ānanam-विशेषण; समासः: शतपत्रेण निभं ईक्षणं यस्य (having eyes like a lotus)

• candra-haṃsa-prakāśābhyām: with moon- and swan-like radiance
• candra-haṃsa-prakāśābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + prakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: चन्द्रः च हंसः (moon and swan) + प्रकाश (glow); ‘with the (two) glows of moon and swan’

• vījyate: is being fanned
• vījyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vīj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: is fanned)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (not)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘your’

• ānanam: face
• ānanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

(How is it that) your face, with its lotus-like eyes is not being fanned by excellent fans of the colour of the Moon or the swan.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• moon (candra)
• lotus (śatapatra)

FAQs

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

Dharma may require relinquishing rightful comforts: the people’s sorrow highlights that Rāma accepts the loss of royal honours without protest to uphold truth and duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The crowd compares the present scene with earlier royal processions, noting the absence of customary attendants and luxuries such as ceremonial fanning.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tyāga (renunciation) and composure: Rāma’s acceptance of hardship underscores inner discipline.