Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 2

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

स गृहैरभ्रसङ्काशैः पाण्डुरैरुपशोभितम्।।।।राजमार्गं ययौ रामो मध्येनागरुधूपितम्।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.17.2

Transliteration

sa gṛhair abhra-saṅkāśaiḥ pāṇḍurair upaśobhitam | rāja-mārgaṃ yayau rāmo madhyenāgaru-dhūpitam ||

Translation

ព្រះរាមបានដើរតាមផ្លូវរាជមហាវិថី ដែលក្រអូបដោយធូបឈើអការុ (agaru) ហើយត្រូវបានលម្អដោយផ្ទះពណ៌សស្រអែមដូចពពកនៅសងខាងផ្លូវ។

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Word by Word

• सः: he/that (Rama)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गृहैः: by/with houses
• गृहैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अभ्रसङ्काशैः: resembling clouds
• अभ्रसङ्काशैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of गृहैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग (agreeing with गृहैः), तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अभ्रवत् सङ्काशः = cloud-like)

• पाण्डुरैः: pale-white
• पाण्डुरैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of गृहैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग (agreeing with गृहैः), तृतीया, बहुवचन

• उपशोभितम्: adorned/beautified
• उपशोभितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शुभ्/शोभ् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of राजमार्गम्)

• राजमार्गम्: royal highway
• राजमार्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः मार्गः = royal road)

• ययौ: went/proceeded
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मध्येन: through the middle
• मध्येन: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial instrumental) = ‘through the middle’

• अगरुधूपितम्: perfumed with agaru-incense
• अगरुधूपितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगरु (प्रातिपदिक) + धूपित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अगरुणा धूपितम्)

Context

That Rama, proceeded down the middle of the highway made fragrant with agaru and incense, lined with houses gleaming pale white like clouds.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• agaru (fragrant wood/incense)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as civic order and auspiciousness: the well-kept royal road symbolizes a society aligned with righteous rule and cultural refinement.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is traveling through Ayodhya on the main royal thoroughfare toward the palace area.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public dignity and restraint: Rama’s steady movement through the city reflects disciplined princely conduct.