Valmiki Ramayana 2.93.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 19

चित्रकूटमार्गवर्णनम् · Bharata’s Army Reaches Chitrakuta and Searches for Rama

Spoken by Bharata to ŚatrughnaSetting: Forest (vana/kānana) in Bharata’s search routeSearch through woodland for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

Devanagari script

मृगा मृगीभिः सहिता बहवः पृषता वने ।

मनोज्ञरूपा दृश्यन्ते कुसुमैरिव चित्रिताः ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.93.19

Transliteration

mṛgā mṛgībhiḥ sahitā bahavaḥ pṛṣatā vane |

manojñarūpā dṛśyante kusumair iva citritāḥ ||19||

Translation

जंगल में बहुत से हिरन हैं, उनकी मादें भी साथ हैं। उनका रूप इतना अच्छा है, जैसे किसी ने फूलों से पेंटिंग कर दी हो।

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Word by Word

• mṛgāḥ: deer
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• mṛgībhiḥ: with does
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana
• Role: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/association)

• sahitāḥ: accompanied
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saha (उपसर्ग/avyaya) + i (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) in sense 'accompanied'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with mṛgāḥ
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म)

• bahavaḥ: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with mṛgāḥ
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म)

• pṛṣatāḥ: spotted deer
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; apposition to mṛgāḥ (spotted deer)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)

• vane: in the forest
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्/location)

• manojñarūpāḥ: charming-looking
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manojña + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: 'manojñaṃ rūpaṃ yeṣām' (having charming form); agrees with mṛgāḥ/pṛṣatāḥ
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• dṛśyante: are seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; ātmanepada; passive sense 'are seen'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• kusumaiḥ: with flowers
• Type: Noun
• Root: kusuma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana
• Role: Karaṇa (करणम्/instrument of comparison)

• iva: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/comparative marker)

• citritāḥ: painted/variegated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) / citr (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) 'painted/variegated'; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with mṛgāḥ
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म)

Context

In this forest many a dappled deer with their mates looking as if painted with flowers are seen wandering about with a charming appearance.

The teaching

A mind attuned to dharma perceives the forest not as threat but as harmonious beauty.

Ethical theme

Ahiṃsā / sāttvika-saṃskāra

For your practice

Supports bhāvanā of sacred nature; useful for calming visualization before meditation.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Pastoral, charming, ornamental

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Nature imagery
• Harmony
• Sacred wilderness

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• forest (vana)
• deer (mṛga, pṛṣata)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes harmony with living beings: the forest associated with ascetic life is portrayed as peaceful and beautiful, reflecting an ideal of non-injury and balance.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata describes the forest’s beauty to Śatrughna, noting the presence of many dappled deer with their mates.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Aesthetic and moral attentiveness—Bharata notices gentleness and order in nature, aligning his outlook with dharmic restraint.