Valmiki Ramayana 2.93.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 93, Shloka 9

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

Spoken by BharataSetting: Citrakūṭa mountain slopes/ridges (sānu)Places named: CitrakūṭaArrival at the mountain environs

Devanagari script

गिरे स्सानूनि रम्याणि चित्रकूटस्य सम्प्रति ।

वारणैरवमृद्यन्ते मामकै पर्वतोपमैः ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.93.9

Transliteration

gireḥ sānūni ramyāṇi citrakūṭasya samprati |

vāraṇair avamṛdyante māmakaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ ||9||

Translation

चित्रकूट के सुंदर पहाड़ हैं, पर अब मेरे हाथी वहाँ चल रहे हैं। इतने बड़े हाथी हैं कि पहाड़ जैसा लगता है।

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Word by Word

• गिरेः: of the mountain
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)

• सानूनि: ridges, slopes
• Type: Noun
• Root: सानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• रम्याणि: beautiful, delightful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjective) सानूनि इति विशेष्यस्य
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)

• चित्रकूटस्य: of Chitrakuta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रकूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: चित्र + कूट (तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• सम्प्रति: now, at present
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)

• वारणैः: by elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument)

• अवमृद्यन्ते: are being trampled/crushed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मृद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)

• मामकैः: my, belonging to me
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मामक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjective) वारणैः इति विशेष्यस्य
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)

• पर्वतोपमैः: resembling mountains
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: पर्वत-उपम (तत्पुरुष; ‘mountain-like’); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण वारणैः
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• गिरे स्सानूनि → गिरेः सानूनि (विसर्ग-सन्धि; ‘ः’ + ‘स’ → ‘स्’)
• वारणैरवमृद्यन्ते → वारणैः अवमृद्यन्ते
• मामकै पर्वतोपमैः → मामकैः पर्वतोपमैः (विसर्ग-लोप/पाठभेद)

Context

The enchanting ridges of mount Chitrakuta are now trampled by my mountain-like elephants.

The teaching

Power should move with humility in sacred spaces; the righteous mission does not license heedlessness.

Duties in tension

• Need for speed and security in a royal mission
• Respect for forest/mountain sanctity and non-injury to hermitage lands

Ethical theme

Rājadharma moderated by ahiṃsā and āśrama-respect

How it resolves

Implicit cautionary tension; invites restraint

For your practice

Mindfulness of one’s ‘footprint’—spiritual practice includes gentleness toward places and beings dedicated to tapas.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Forceful, grand, pressing

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Remorse
• Atonement
• Non-violence (ahiṃsā) tension

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Citrakūṭa
• Bharata
• elephants (vāraṇa)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights moral sensitivity to harm caused even unintentionally: Bharata recognizes that his royal retinue damages a sacred and beautiful landscape. Dharma here includes accountability and restraint, not merely power.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is approaching Citrakūṭa to seek Rāma; seeing (or imagining) the impact of his elephants on the mountain’s ridges, he laments the disturbance caused by his own forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s humility and remorse—he does not glorify royal might; instead he feels responsible for disruption and seeks reconciliation with Rāma.