Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 4

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

चन्दनानां च मुख्यानामगरूणां च सञ्चयैः।।2.17.3।।उत्तमानां च गन्धानां क्षौमकोशाम्बरस्य च। अविद्धाभिश्च मुक्ताभिरुत्तमैस्स्फाटिकैरपि।।2.17.4।।शोभमानमसंबाधैस्तं राजपथमुत्तमम्। संवृतं विविधैःपुष्पैर्भक्ष्यैरुच्चावचैरपि।।2.17.5।।

Transliteration

candanānāṃ ca mukhyānām agarūṇāṃ ca sañcayaiḥ || 2.17.3 ||

uttamānāṃ ca gandhānāṃ kṣaumakośāmbarasya ca | aviddhābhiś ca muktābhir uttamaiḥ sphāṭikair api || 2.17.4 ||

śobhamānam asaṃbādhais taṃ rājapatham uttamam | saṃvṛtaṃ vividhaiḥ puṣpair bhakṣyair uccāvacair api || 2.17.5 ||

Translation

Jalan kerajaan itu dihiasi timbunan cendana utama dan agaru, wewangian terbaik serta gulungan kain sutra putih; berkilau oleh mutiara tanpa cela dan benda-benda kristal unggul, serta tertutup taburan aneka bunga dan berbagai hidangan.

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राजपथम्: royal road
• राजपथम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘in heaven’

• देवपथम्: path of the gods
• देवपथम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (comparative particle) = ‘as/like’

• दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजैः: with curd, rice-grains, oblations, and puffed rice
• दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक) + हविस् (प्रातिपदिक) + लाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (curd, unbroken rice, oblation, puffed rice)

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अगरुचन्दनैः: with agaru and sandalwood
• अगरुचन्दनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगरु (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय used adjectivally = ‘various’

• माल्योपगन्धैः: with garlands and perfumes
• माल्योपगन्धैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उपगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (garlands and fragrances)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अभ्यर्चितचत्वरम्: having worshipped crossroads (well-worshipped squares)
• अभ्यर्चितचत्वरम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-र्च् (धातु) → अभ्यर्चित (कृदन्त) + चत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अभ्यर्चितं चत्वरं यस्मिन्/यत् = ‘having worshipped crossroads’ as qualifier of राजपथम्)

Context

The highway (Rama entered) was splendid and spacious with heaps of sandal and agaru of the highest quality, excellent fragrant substances and bundles of white silken cloth. It gleamed with unholed (pristine) pearls, articles made of crystals, flowers of every kind and articles of food of every variety.

Characters & Entities

• royal highway (rājapatha)
• sandalwood (candana)
• agaru (agaru)
• pearls (muktā)
• flowers (puṣpa)

FAQs

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

The same dharmic theme as 2.17.3–5: auspicious public order and generosity surrounding a righteous prince.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated/combined textual presentation of the decorated royal road description.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Civic reverence and disciplined celebration in anticipation of dharmic kingship.