Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 1

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

अथ भूमिप्रदेशज्ञास्सूत्रकर्मविशारदाः।स्वकर्माभिरताश्शूराः खनका यन्त्रकास्तथा।।।।कर्मान्तिकाः स्थपतयः पुरुष यन्त्रकोविदाः।तथा वार्धकयश्चैव मार्गिणो वृक्षतक्षकाः।।।।कूपकारास्सुधाकारार्वंशकर्मकृतस्तथा।समर्था ये च द्रष्टारः पुरतस्ते प्रतस्थिरे।।।।

Transliteration

atha bhūmipradeśajñāḥ sūtrakarmaviśāradāḥ |

svakarmābhiratāḥ śūrāḥ khanakā yantrakās tathā ||

karmāntikāḥ sthapatayaḥ puruṣā yantrakovidāḥ |

tathā vārdhakayaś caiva mārgiṇo vṛkṣatakṣakāḥ ||

kūpakārāḥ sudhākārā vaṅśakarmakṛtas tathā |

samarthā ye ca draṣṭāraḥ puratas te pratasthire ||

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ഭൂമിപ്രദേശം അറിയുന്നവരും സൂത്രകർമ്മത്തിൽ നിപുണരായ അളവുകാർയും, സ്വന്തം ജോലിയിൽ ലീനരായ ശൂരരും സാമർത്ഥ്യമുള്ള തൊഴിലാളികളും—ഖനകർ, യന്ത്രകാരർ; ശില്പികൾ, സ്ഥപതികൾ, യന്ത്രവിദഗ്ധർ; വാർദ്ധകികൾ (തച്ചർ), മാർഗ്ഗനിർമ്മാതാക്കൾ, വൃക്ഷതക്ഷകർ; കൂപകാരർ, സുധാകാരർ, വംശകർമ്മക്കാർ, കൂടാതെ പ്രാവീണ്യമുള്ള മേൽനോട്ടക്കാർ—മുന്നോടിയായി പുറപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• atha: then/thereafter
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb) आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक

• bhūmi-pradeśa-jñāḥ: land-surveyors/knowers of terrain
• bhūmi-pradeśa-jñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + pradeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'भूमेः प्रदेशस्य ज्ञाः' = knowers of land-regions

• sūtra-karma-viśāradāḥ: experts in measuring/cord-work
• sūtra-karma-viśāradāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सूत्रकर्मणि विशारदाः'

• sva-karma-abhiratāḥ: engaged in their own work
• sva-karma-abhiratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + abhirata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ram with abhi)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'स्वकर्मणि अभिरताः'

• śūrāḥ: valiant/energetic
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• khanakāḥ: diggers/excavators
• khanakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• yantrakāḥ: engineers/mechanics
• yantrakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yantraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction) समुच्चय/सादृश्यार्थक

Context

Then surveyors, experts in measurment, energetic and zealous labourers, excavators, engineers, skilled workers, architects, craftsmen, carpenters, road-levellers, wood-cutters, well-diggers, whitewashers, basket-makers, competent supervisors were sent in advance.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata (implied by sarga context)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma as responsible governance: organizing skilled labor and supervision to ensure safe travel and orderly public works, reflecting duty of the state toward people and royal missions.

What is the narrative situation?

As Bharata is to travel, a large team of specialists and overseers is dispatched ahead to prepare the route and necessary facilities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative competence and foresight—planning in advance, assigning qualified personnel, and ensuring accountability through supervisors.