Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.1-2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shlokas 1-2

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

तदन्तःपुरद्वारं समतीत्य जनाकुलम् ।

प्रविविक्तां ततः कक्ष्यामाससाद पुराणवित् ॥१॥

प्रासकार्मुकबिभ्रद्भिर्युवभिर्मृष्टकुण्डलैः ।

अप्रमादिभिरेकाग्रै स्स्वनुरक्तैरधिष्ठिताम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.1-2

Transliteration

tad antaḥpuradvāraṃ samatītya janākulam |

praviviktāṃ tataḥ kakṣyām āsasāda purāṇavit ||1||

prāsakārmukabibhradbhiḥ yuvabhiḥ mṛṣṭakuṇḍalaiḥ |

apramādibhir ekāgraiḥ svanuraktair adhiṣṭhitām ||2||

Translation

古の作法に通じたスーマントラは、内殿の人で混み合う門を通り過ぎ、さらに奥の静かな中庭へと至った。そこは、怠りなく一心に任務へ尽くす若者たちにより守られ、彼らは槍と弓を携え、磨き上げた耳飾りを着けていた。

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Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative used adjectivally

• antaḥpura-dvāram: the inner-palace door
• antaḥpura-dvāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥpura + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'door of the inner apartments'

• samatītya: having passed beyond
• samatītya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam + ati + √i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having passed'

• janākulam: crowded with people
• janākulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jana + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'crowded with people'

• praviviktām: secluded/sparsely occupied
• praviviktām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + vivikta (कृदन्त; √vic)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; PPP (क्त) used adjectivally qualifying कक्ष्याम्

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रम/अनन्तर)

• kakṣyām: courtyard/inner corridor
• kakṣyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āsasāda: reached/approached
• āsasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √sad (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• purāṇavit: knower of ancient tradition
• purāṇavit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'knower of ancient lore'; stem in -vit (agent noun)

• prāsa-kārmuka-bibhradbhis: by young men carrying spears and bows
• prāsa-kārmuka-bibhradbhis: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāsa + kārmuka + bibhrat (कृदन्त; √bhṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; dvandva: prāsa 'spear' + kārmuka 'bow'; bibhrat = present active participle (शतृ) 'carrying'

• yuvabhiḥ: by young men
• yuvabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalaiḥ: with shining earrings
• mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛṣṭa + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; karmadhāraya: 'polished/shining earrings'

• apramādibhiḥ: by vigilant (guards)
• apramādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apramādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'vigilant/without negligence'

• ekāgraiḥ: by attentive (ones)
• ekāgraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ekāgra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; karmadhāraya: 'single-pointed/attentive'

• svanuraktaiḥ: by very devoted (ones)
• svanuraktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + anurakta (कृदन्त; √rañj)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; avyayībhāva: सु- (well) + अनुरक्त (devoted); PPP (क्त)

• adhiṣṭhitām: guarded
• adhiṣṭhitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi + √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; PPP (क्त) qualifying कक्ष्याम्: 'guarded/occupied'

Context

Sumantra, who was conversant with ancient traditions, passed through the entrance of the inner apartment full of people and reached the sparsely crowded courtyard. There alert, loyal young men were attentively guarding the frontyard, armed with spears and bows and wearing shining earrings.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Rāma (implied destination)
• Antaḥpura (inner apartments)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as disciplined guardianship: alertness, loyalty, and restraint in service protect social order and the sanctity of royal spaces.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra proceeds inward through palace zones—moving from a crowded gate to a quieter courtyard under watchful guards—on his way to meet Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The guards’ virtues: apramāda (vigilance), ekāgratā (focused attention), and bhakti-like loyalty to duty and king.