Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 49

अभिषेकसज्जा तथा सुमन्त्रस्य प्रेषणम्

Coronation Preparations and Sumantra’s Commission

Devanagari script

तदन्द्रिकूटाचलमेघसन्निभं महाविमानोपमवेश्मसंयुतम्।अवार्यमाणः प्रविवेश सारथिःप्रभूतरत्नं मकरो यथार्णवम्।।2.15.49।।

Transliteration

tad adrikūṭācalameghasannibhaṃ mahāvimānopamaveśmasaṃyutam |

avāryamāṇaḥ praviveśa sārathiḥ prabhūtaratnaṃ makaro yathārṇavam || 2.15.49 ||

Translation

પર્વતશિખર પર સ્થિર મેઘ સમાન અને મહાવિમાન જેવી ભવ્ય કક્ષાઓથી ઘેરાયેલું તે મહેલ—અવરોધ વિના સારથિએ પ્રવેશ્યું; જેમ બહુ રત્નોથી સમૃદ્ધ સમુદ્રમાં મકર નિર્ભયે પ્રવેશે તેમ.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• andrikūṭa-acala-megha-sannibham: resembling a cloud on a mountain peak
• andrikūṭa-acala-megha-sannibham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: andri-kūṭa + acala + megha + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: 'similar to a cloud (megha) over a mountain peak (acala-kūṭa)'

• mahā-vimāna-upama-veśma-saṃyutam: joined with splendid mansion-like chambers
• mahā-vimāna-upama-veśma-saṃyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + vimāna + upama + veśma + saṃyuta (कृदन्त; √yuj)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'connected with/possessing rooms like great aerial mansions'; saṃyuta PPP (क्त)

• avāryamāṇaḥ: unhindered
• avāryamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vāryamāṇa (कृदन्त; √vṛ/√vār)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; present passive participle (शानच्/मान) with privative a-: 'not being prevented'

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √viś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• sārathiḥ: the charioteer
• sārathiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• prabhūta-ratnam: rich in jewels
• prabhūta-ratnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhūta + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'abundant (prabhūta) jewels (ratna)'

• makaraḥ: a makara (sea-creature/crocodile)
• makaraḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• arṇavam: the ocean
• arṇavam: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Context

The palace looked like a mountain peak covered by a cloud and a great vimana surrounded by splendid apartments. The charioteer entered the palace unobstructed like a crocodile entering the ocean bristling with many gems.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcadaśaḥsargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the fifteenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra (implied by ‘sārathiḥ’)
• vimāna (simile)
• makara
• arṇava (ocean)

FAQs

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

Dharma is implied through rightful access and unobstructed duty: the charioteer moves without hindrance because he acts within legitimate role and protocol—authority and service aligned with order.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra enters the palace complex; the verse poetically describes the grandeur of the residence and his unhindered passage inward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast service: Sumantra’s purposeful entry reflects a servant’s commitment to complete his entrusted task.