Shloka 4

चित्रकूटमार्गवर्णनम्

Bharata’s Army Reaches Chitrakuta and Searches for Rama

Devanagari script

सागरौघनिभा सेना भरतस्य महात्मनः। महीं सञ्छादयामास प्रावृषि द्यामिवाम्बुदः।।2.93.4।।

Transliteration

sāgaraughanibhā senā bharatasya mahātmanaḥ | mahīṃ sañchādayāmāsa prāvṛṣi dyām ivāmbudaḥ || 2.93.4 ||

Translation

മഹാത്മാവായ ഭരതന്റെ സേന സമുദ്രത്തിന്റെ പൊങ്ങുന്ന തിരകളെപ്പോലെ; പ്രാവൃശ്യകാല മേഘങ്ങൾ ആകാശത്തെ മൂടുന്നതുപോലെ ഭൂമിയെ മൂടി നിറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

• सम्प्रतस्थे: set out
• सम्प्रतस्थे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect, 3rd person singular Ātmanepada; narrative past 'set out/proceeded'

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: 'one whose self is dharma' = righteous person

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicative
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √prī (प्री धातु); prīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP used adjectivally; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative of saḥ

• दशरथात्मजः: son of Dasharatha
• दशरथात्मजः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'son of Daśaratha'

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicative
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛ (वृ धातु); vṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'surrounded'

• महत्या: great
• महत्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with senayā

• नादिन्या: clamouring
• नादिन्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nādinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; 'noisy/clamouring' agrees with senayā

• सेनया: by the army
• सेनया: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahakārī
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• चतुरङ्गया: four-divisional
• चतुरङ्गया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of senayā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu: 'four-limbed/four-divisional (infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephants)'

Context

All of you carefully watch here. Do not proceed any further. Sumantra, the preceptor and myself shall go forward.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• senā (army)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit: immense power (a vast army) is portrayed as a tool that must be governed by righteous intent, not mere domination.

What is the narrative situation?

A vivid simile describes the magnitude of Bharata’s marching force as it advances across the land.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mahātmatā (greatness of spirit): Bharata is characterized as ‘mahātmā’, suggesting moral stature that should restrain and guide political power.