Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 35

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Setting: Ayodhyā processional roadPlaces named: AyodhyāVanguard moving ahead of the chariot

Devanagari script

अग्रतश्चास्य सन्नद्धाश्चन्दनागरुभूषिताः ॥३५॥

खड्गचापधराश्शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.35

Transliteration

agrataś cāsya sannaddhāś candanāgarubhūṣitāḥ ||35||

khaḍgacāpadharāś śūrā jagmur āśaṃsavo janāḥ |

Translation

उसके आगे बहुत बहादुर लोग चले जा रहे थे। उनके हाथ में तलवार और धनुष थी। उन्होंने आर्मर पहना हुआ था। उनके शरीर पर चंदन और अगरु लगा हुआ था। वो सब लोग आगे जा रहे थे जैसे उसका अनाउंसमेंट कर रहे हो।

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• vāditra-śabdāḥ: sounds of instruments
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = vāditrāṇāṃ śabdāḥ; subject of śuśruvire
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• stuti-śabdāḥ: sounds of praise
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = stuteḥ śabdāḥ; subject of śuśruvire
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• vandinām: of panegyrists
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; genitive dependent on stuti-śabdāḥ
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• siṃha-nādāḥ: lion-roars
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = siṃhasya nādāḥ; subject of śuśruvire
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• śūrāṇām: of warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; genitive dependent on siṃha-nādāḥ
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• tadā: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• śuśruvire: were heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect; 3rd person, Bahuvacana; ātmanepada; impersonal sense 'were heard'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• pathi: on the road
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; locative of place
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

Sandhi Notes

• vāditraśabdāśca = vāditra-śabdāḥ ca
• stutiśabdāśca = stuti-śabdāḥ ca
• siṅhanādāśca = siṃha-nādāḥ ca

Context

Soldiers, anointing their bodies with pastes of sandal and aloe wood, equipped with armour and holding swords and bows, went ahead heralding his (Rama's) arrival.

The teaching

Strength and preparedness, when aligned to protect the righteous, become instruments of public dharma rather than aggression.

Ethical theme

Kṣātra-dharma (protective duty)

For your practice

Cultivating ‘rakṣā-bhāva’—using one’s skills and strength as protective service for dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Martial, fragrant, ceremonial

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• sword (khaḍga)
• bow (cāpa)
• agaru (agarwood)

FAQs

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

Dharma as protective readiness: force is shown as disciplined and ceremonial—meant to uphold order and safeguard the righteous, not to intimidate unjustly.

What is the narrative situation?

A vanguard of armed, ceremonially adorned warriors proceeds ahead of Rāma, acting as heralds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under discipline—valor (śaurya) guided by duty and decorum.