Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.21: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 21

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

अयोध्यायां पुरा शब्दश्श्रूयते तुमुलो महान्।।2.71.21।।

समन्तान्नरनारीणां तमद्य न श्रुणोम्यहम्।

Transliteration

ayodhyāyāṃ purā śabdaḥ śrūyate tumulo mahān || 2.71.21 ||

samantān nara-nārīṇāṃ tam adya na śṛṇomy aham |

Translation

Autrefois, à Ayodhyā, on entendait de toutes parts un grand tumulte de voix d’hommes et de femmes ; aujourd’hui, je n’entends plus ce bruit.

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Word by Word

• ayodhyāyām: in Ayodhya
• ayodhyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (time)

• śabdaḥ: sound/noise
• śabdaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śrūyate: is heard/was heard
• śrūyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada; passive sense 'is heard'

• tumulaḥ: tumultuous
• tumulaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying "śabdaḥ"

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying "śabdaḥ"

• samantāt: all around
• samantāt: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (place) 'from all sides/throughout'

• nara-nārīṇām: of men and women
• nara-nārīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva compound; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); overall gender: mixed -> masculine plural usage

• tam: that (sound)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; referring to "śabdaḥ"

• adya: today/now
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (time)

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• śṛṇomi: I hear
• śṛṇomi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Context

I do not hear now, in Ayodhya the tumultous noise of men and women I used to hear earlier all over.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Sumantra

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected in the collective life of the city; when dharma is disturbed, even ordinary civic joy and movement diminish. The verse uses silence as a moral symptom of a kingdom’s inner disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama nears Ayodhya, he notices an abnormal quiet compared to the city’s usual lively bustle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s empathy and responsibility: he reads the people’s mood as significant, not trivial, indicating a ruler’s concern for public welfare.