Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 4

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे त्रस्ता श्शब्देन महता ततः।अर्दिता यूथपा मत्ता स्सयूथा दुद्रुवुर्दिशः।।2.96.4।।

Transliteration

etasminn antare trastāḥ śabdena mahatā tataḥ | arditā yūthapā mattāḥ sayūthā dudruvur diśaḥ || 2.96.4 ||

Translation

Pendant ce temps, terrifiés par un grand vacarme, les puissants chefs des troupeaux d'éléphants, agités avec leurs groupes, s'enfuirent dans toutes les directions.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी-विभक्ति; विशेषण (of अन्तरे)

• अन्तरे: interval; meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी-विभक्ति

• त्रस्ताः: frightened
• त्रस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; क्त-कृदन्त (past participle) ‘frightened’

• शब्देन: by the sound
• शब्देन: Karana (करण/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति

• महता: great; loud
• महता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति; विशेषण (of शब्देन)

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (from there/then)

• अर्दिताः: agitated
• अर्दिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; क्त-कृदन्त ‘disturbed, agitated’

• यूथपाः: leaders of herds
• यूथपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• मत्ताः: maddened
• मत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; क्त-कृदन्त ‘intoxicated, rutting’

• सयूथाः: with their herds
• सयूथाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्गसदृश) + यूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुव्रीहि (सह यूथैः/with their herds)

• दुद्रुवुः: ran away; fled
• दुद्रुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• दिशः: to the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म/Object; direction of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति

Context

Let the wild beasts drag away the elephants, horses and men to be killed by me with their hearts transfixed with my arrows.

Characters & Entities

• forest (implicit)

FAQs

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

The verse sets the stage for responsible action: a disturbance in the forest becomes a cue for vigilance and restraint rather than impulsive violence—an indirect support for dharma through alertness and non-harm.

What is the narrative situation?

A loud commotion arises; elephant-herd leaders panic and scatter, signaling the approach or presence of a large force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Situational prudence (alert observation) is emphasized through the narrative framing that prompts careful inquiry.