Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 3

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

रूपाजीवाश्च वादिन्यो वणिजश्च महाधनाः।शोभयन्तु कुमारस्य वाहिनीं सुप्रसारिताः।।।।

Transliteration

rūpājīvāś ca vādinyo vaṇijaś ca mahādhanāḥ | śobhayantu kumārasya vāhinīṃ suprasāritāḥ ||

Translation

Que la procession du prince, largement déployée, soit embellie par les courtisanes vivant de leur beauté, par les femmes au parler suave, et par les riches marchands aux étals bien présentés.

Word by Word

• rūpa-jīvāḥ: women who live by beauty (courtesans)
• rūpa-jīvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of śobhayantu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: rūpeṇa jīvanti iti; Strīliṅga (context: courtesans), Nominative (1st), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vādinyaḥ: female singers / sweet-tongued women
• vādinyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Nominative, Plural; 'female singers/speakers'

• vaṇijaḥ: merchants
• vaṇijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṇij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• mahā-dhanāḥ: very wealthy
• mahā-dhanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahad dhanaṃ yeṣām; Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Plural; qualifies vaṇijaḥ (and/or others)

• śobhayantu: let them adorn
• śobhayantu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śubh (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) from √śubh; Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• kumārasya: of the prince
• kumārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Genitive (6th), Singular

• vāhinīm: the army/retinue
• vāhinīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• su-prasāritāḥ: well spread out (wares/display)
• su-prasāritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + prasārita (सृ धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from pra+√sṛ/√sāṛ? (prasārayati causative; prasārita 'spread out'); with su-; Nominative, Plural; agrees with subjects

Context

Let the sweet-tongued courtesans, opulent merchants with well spread-out merchandise make the army of my son graceful.

Characters & Entities

• Courtesans (Rūpājīvāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as rājadhrama—maintaining public order and auspicious social arrangements around a prince’s public movement.

What is the narrative situation?

Instructions are given for arranging a splendid public entourage for the prince, involving various social groups and commerce.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative competence and attention to public ceremony—organizing society’s roles to support the royal household.