Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 2

एकाशीति तमः सर्गः

Bharata’s Grief, Courtly Summons, and the Assembly Hall

Devanagari script

सुवर्णकोणाभिहतः प्राणदद्यामदुन्दुभिः।दध्मुश्शङ्खांश्च शतशो नादांश्चोच्चावचस्वरान्।।।।

Transliteration

suvarṇa-koṇābhihataḥ prāṇadad yāma-dundubhiḥ |

dadhmuḥ śaṅkhāṃś ca śataśo nādāṃś coccāvaca-svarān ||

Translation

金の先をもつ撥で打たれた夜警の太鼓が鳴り響き、さらに法螺貝が幾百も吹き鳴らされて、高低さまざまにうねる声が起こった。

Word by Word

• suvarṇa-koṇa-abhihataḥ: struck with golden sticks
• suvarṇa-koṇa-abhihataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + koṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhihata (कृदन्त; √han धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; 'suvarṇakoṇena abhihataḥ' (struck with a golden stick/rod); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण to 'yāmadundubhiḥ' (as a drum)

• prāṇadat: resounded
• prāṇadat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ad (धातु) with preverb prāṇa- (प्राण)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); 'gave forth (sound)'

• yāma-dundubhiḥ: with night-watch drums
• yāma-dundubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāma (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (night-watch drum); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• dadhmuḥ: blew
• dadhmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dham (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• śaṅkhān: conches
• śaṅkhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds
• śataśaḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of quantity): 'by hundreds'

• nādān: sounds
• nādān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• uccāvaca-svarān: of varied pitch
• uccāvaca-svarān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uccā (प्रातिपदिक) + avaca (प्रातिपदिक) + svara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (varied/high-low tones); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण to 'nādān'

Context

The drums of the night watch were beaten by golden sticks. Conches in hundreds were blown and sounds of various modulations were created.

Characters & Entities

• śaṅkha (conch)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as social order: timekeeping, guards, and ceremonial signals uphold a disciplined kingdom—even when the royal household is in crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

Courtly instruments are sounded in the palace context, as if for royal routine/announcement, setting the stage for Bharata’s awakening amid mourning.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective civic duty: the attendants and guards perform their assigned roles, reflecting steadiness and adherence to established norms.