Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 1

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

स रामो रथमास्थाय सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः।पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नं महार्हागरुधूपितम्।।।।अपश्यन्नगरं श्रीमान्नानाजनसमाकुलम्।

Transliteration

sa rāmo ratham āsthāya samprahṛṣṭasuhṛjjanaḥ | patākādhvajasampannaṃ mahārhāgarudhūpitam || apaśyan nagaraṃ śrīmān nānājanasamākulam |

Translation

സന്തോഷത്തോടെ ഉല്ലസിക്കുന്ന സുഹൃത്തുക്കളോടുകൂടെ രാമൻ രഥത്തിൽ കയറി. പതാകകളും ധ്വജങ്ങളുംകൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതും, വിലയേറിയ അഗരു-ധൂപത്തിന്റെ സുഗന്ധം പരന്നതും, നാനാവിധ ജനസമൂഹംകൊണ്ട് നിറഞ്ഞതുമായ നഗരത്തെ ശ്രീമാൻ രാമൻ ദർശിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having mounted
• आस्थाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having mounted/after boarding’

• सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः: whose friends/companions were delighted
• सम्प्रहृष्टसुहृज्जनः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्प्रहृष्ट (कृदन्त) + सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (suḥṛd-janaḥ = ‘of friends/companions’), पूर्वपद ‘सम्प्रहृष्ट’ विशेषण

• पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नम्: adorned with banners and flags
• पताकाध्वजसम्पन्नम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पन्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पताकाध्वजैः सम्पन्नम् = ‘endowed with banners and flags’)

• महार्हागरुधूपितम्: perfumed with costly agaru-incense
• महार्हागरुधूपितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महार्ह (प्रातिपदिक) + अगरु (प्रातिपदिक) + धूपित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महार्हेण अगरुणा धूपितम् = ‘fumigated/perfumed with costly agaru’)

• अपश्यन्: beholding/saw
• अपश्यन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-पश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रिया—‘seeing/beholding’ (finite sense with ellipsis)

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of रामः)

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

• जन: people
• जन: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिकार्थ (in compound); here as prior member in समास

• समाकुलम्: crowded/filled
• समाकुलम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of नगरम्)

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 (city)
• Agaru (fragrant wood/incense)

FAQs

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

Dharma is communal harmony: citizens and companions rejoice in a righteous succession, expressing social unity rather than factionalism.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama rides in a chariot and views Ayodhya festively decorated and crowded, as the city anticipates a major royal event.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lokasaṅgraha (upholding social cohesion): Rama’s presence draws collective joy and orderly celebration.