Valmiki Ramayana 2.76.16-17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 76, Shlokas 16-17

दशरथस्य अन्त्येष्टि

विधानम् · Dasaratha’s Funeral Rites and Ayodhya’s Mourning

Setting: Ayodhy (cremation ground on Saray's bank implied by broader episode)Places named: Saray (implied by context of DaŚratha's antyei in Ayodhy)

Devanagari script

चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान् सरलं पद्मकं तथा ।

देवदारूणि चाहृत्य क्षेपयन्ति तथापरे ॥१६॥

गन्धानुच्चावचांश्चान्यां स्तत्र गत्वाथ भूमिपम् ।

तत्र संवेशयामासुश्चितामध्ये तमृत्विजः ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.76.16-17

Transliteration

candana-agaru-niryāsān saralaṁ padmakaṁ tathā |

devadārūṇi cāhṛtya kṣepayanti tathāpare ||16||

gandhān uccāvacāṁś cānyān tatra gatvātha bhūmipam |

tatra saṁveśayāmāsuś citā-madhye tam ṛtvijaḥ ||17||

Translation

മറ്റുള്ളവർ ചന്ദനം, അഗരു, സുഗന്ധനിര്യാസങ്ങൾ, സരള, പദ്മക, ദേവദാരു മുതലായ മരങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടുവന്ന് അവിടെ വിതറി; മറ്റു പല സുഗന്ധങ്ങളുമായി ആ സ്ഥലത്തെത്തി, ഋത്വിക്കന്മാർ രാജദേഹത്തെ ചിതയുടെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ യഥാവിധി സ്ഥാപിച്ചു.

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Word by Word

• चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान्: sandal, agaru, and resins
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Masculine, Accusative, Plural; copulative compound: sandal, agaru, resins)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvandva

• सरलम्: sarala wood/tree
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पद्मकम्: padmaka wood/tree
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)

• देवदारूणि: devadāru woods
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)

• आहृत्य: having brought
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive: having brought)
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• क्षेपयन्ति: they throw/scatter
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद (Present, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• तथा: similarly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: similarly)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)

• अपरे: others
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• चन्दनागरुनिर्यासान् = चन्दन + अगुरु + निर्यास (द्वन्द्व-समास)
• चाहृत्य → च + आहृत्य

Context

In this way others brought sandal, agaru and fragrant gum gugul, the resin of balsa tree and woods of sarala, padmaka and devadaru and built a pyre and strew many kinds of fragrant substances on it. Thereafter the priests laid the mortal remains of the king in the centre of the pyre.

The teaching

Even kings are subject to impermanence; rites are performed with order and reverence, affirming saskra-dharma.

Ethical theme

Saskra-dharma / anityat

For your practice

Contemplation on mortality (maraƺsmti) and disciplined performance of duties; supports vairgya and compassion.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Funereal, reverent, heavy

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Antyeṣṭi (funeral rites)
• Ritual materials
• Reverence for the dead

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ṛtvij (priests)
• Daśaratha (bhūmipa, implied)
• Citā (funeral pyre)
• Candana (sandalwood)
• Agaru
• Gandha (perfumes)

FAQs

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

Dharma is enacted through meticulous rites and reverent preparation; truthfulness (satya) here is fidelity to sacred custom and honoring the deceased with care.

What is the narrative situation?

Perfumed woods and resins are gathered and strewn to prepare the pyre; the priests place the king’s body at its center.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and precision—ritual specialists and attendants show respect through careful, rule-aligned preparation.