Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.18-20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shlokas 18-20

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः ।

तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः ॥१८॥

प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः ।

पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः ॥१९॥

विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः ।

समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.80.18-20

Transliteration

bahupāṃsucayāścāpi parikhāparivāritāḥ |

tatrendrakīlapratimāḥ pratolīvaraśobhitāḥ ||18||

prāsādamālāvitatā ssaudhaprākārasaṃvṛtāḥ |

patākāśobhitā ssarve sunirmitamahāpathāḥ ||19||

visarpadbhirivā'kāśe viṭaṅkāgravimānakaiḥ |

samucchritairniveśāste babhuśśakrapuropamāḥ ||20||

Translation

उस जगह कुआँ खोदे थे, और उनके आस-पास मिट्टी का ढेर लगा दिया। बड़े-बड़े बिल्डिंग बनाए, जो पहाड़ जैसी ऊँची थी। उनके आस-पास दीवार भी थी। हर जगह झंडा लगा हुआ था। रास्ते भी अच्छे से बनाए थे। बिल्डिंग इतनी ऊँची थी कि आसमान को छू रही थी। देखने में इंद्र की सिटी जैसी लग रही थी।

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Word by Word

• जाह्नवीम्: the Jāhnavī (Ganga)
• जाह्नवीम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed, and then
• तु: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• समासाद्य: having reached
• समासाद्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Absolutive/क्त्वा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• विविध-द्रुम-काननाम्: having groves of various trees
• विविध-द्रुम-काननाम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—विविधैः द्रुमैः युक्तं काननं यस्याः (नदी-विशेषण)

• शीतल-अमल-पानीयाम्: with cool, clear water
• शीतल-अमल-पानीयाम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + पानीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शीतलं अमलं पानीयं यस्याः

• महा-मीन-समाकुलाम्: teeming with large fish
• महा-मीन-समाकुलाम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मीन (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—महामीनैः समाकुला

Context

They heaped sand and dug moats around the resting-place. It was adorned with well-built highways and broad thoroughfares, lined with mansions surrounded by walls as high as mount Indrakeela. The peaks of those tall residences decorated with flags which looked as if spreading into the sky. (Thus the resting-place) shone like the abode of Indra.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ganga
• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the dharma of royal service and the proper conduct of a king's journey. The elaborate preparations for Bharata's travel, creating settlements comparable to Indra's celestial city, demonstrate the kingdom's commitment to supporting their leader's mission. This reflects the principle that a righteous cause (Bharata's quest to bring back Rama) deserves full support and that those in service should perform their duties with excellence and devotion.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is leading a large army and retinue through the forest toward Chitrakoot to find Rama and request his return to Ayodhya. The verse describes how the advance party has prepared elaborate resting places along the route, complete with fortifications, mansions, and all the amenities of a royal city. These temporary settlements are so magnificent they resemble the abode of Indra himself, showcasing the scale and grandeur of Bharata's expedition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse indirectly emphasizes Bharata's virtue of determination and his commitment to dharma. Though not directly mentioned in these verses, the extraordinary preparations reflect the importance of his mission, to restore Rama to the throne. The willingness of the kingdom to construct such elaborate facilities demonstrates the collective recognition of Bharata's righteous purpose and the people's support for his quest to uphold truth and justice.