Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.48 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 48

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

करेणुमातंङ्गरथाश्वसंकुलंमहाजनौघ परिपूर्णचत्वरम्।प्रभूतरत्नं बहुपण्यसञ्चयंददर्श रामो रुचिरं महापथम्।।।।

Transliteration

kareṇumātaṅgarathāśvasaṅkulaṃ mahājanaughaparipūrṇacatvaram | prabhūtaratnaṃ bahupaṇyasañcayaṃ dadarśa rāmo ruciraṃ mahāpatham ||

Translation

ರಾಮನು ಆ ಮನೋಹರ ಮಹಾಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನು ಕಂಡನು—ಹಸ್ತಿನಿಯರು, ಗಜಗಳು, ರಥಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅಶ್ವಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿ ತುಳುಕುವದು; ಚತುಷ್ಪಥಗಳು ಮಹಾಜನಸಮೂಹದಿಂದ ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣ; ರತ್ನಸಂಪತ್ತಿನಿಂದ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ, ಅನೇಕ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರವಸ್ತುಗಳ ಸಂಗ್ರಹದಿಂದ ಸಮೃದ್ಧ.

Word by Word

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (as)

• sma: indeed/then (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपातः (past-time particle, with past narration)

• poṣitāḥ: nurtured/raised
• poṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √puṣ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; वयम् इति कर्तृ-भावे (we, having been nurtured)

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम्

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; पितामहैः इति विशेषणम्

• pitāmahaiḥ: by grandfathers/forefathers
• pitāmahaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः अव्ययत्वेन (thereafter/then)

• sukha-taram: more happily
• sukha-taram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• rāme: when Rama (is)
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Loc sg: 'when Rama...')

• vatsyāmaḥ: we shall live
• vatsyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Future), उत्तम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• sati: when (he) is
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तं वर्तमान-कृदन्तम्, पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे (locative absolute: 'when ... being')

• rājani: as king
• rājani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; sati इत्यनेन सह सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः (locative absolute)

Context

Sumantra beheld Rama, who resembled Kubera. Rama was sitting on a richlycovered golden couch, welladorned and anointed with precious, pure, fragrant red sandalpaste the colour of which appeared like the blood of a hog. With Sita standing by his side with a fan of yak's tail in her hand Rama, the tormentor of foes,looked like the Moon united with (the star) Chitra.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya (implied by setting)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected in civic prosperity under righteous governance: orderly crowds, commerce, and wealth symbolize a society functioning within moral and social law.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama proceeds, he observes Ayodhya’s main thoroughfare bustling with people, vehicles, animals, and trade.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s suitability for kingship is implied: the city’s orderly abundance anticipates rule aligned with dharma and public welfare.