Valmiki Ramayana 1.77.8 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 8

सप्तसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Ayodhya Return, Bridal Reception, and Bharata’s Departure

Devanagari script

चोदयामास तां सेनां जगामाशु तत: पुरीम्।पताकाध्वजिनीं रम्यां तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिताम्।।1.77.7।।सिक्तराज पथां रम्यां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम् ।राजप्रवेशसुमुखै: पौरैर्मङ्गलवादिभि:।।1.77.8।।सम्पूर्णां प्राविशद्राजा जनौघैस्समलङ्कृताम्।

Transliteration

siktarājapathāṃ ramyāṃ prakīrṇakusumotkarām | rājapraveśasumukhaiḥ paurair maṅgalavādibhiḥ || 1.77.8 ||

Translation

ജലം തളിച്ച രാജപഥങ്ങൾ മനോഹരമായിരുന്നു; ചിതറിക്കിടക്കുന്ന പുഷ്പക്കൂമ്പാരങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു. രാജപ്രവേശത്തിൽ പ്രസന്നമുഖരായ പൗരന്മാർ മംഗളവചനങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• siktarājapathām: with royal roads sprinkled (with water)
• siktarājapathām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sikta (प्रातिपदिक) + rājapatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (sprinkled royal-road); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying purīm)

• ramyām: beautiful
• ramyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• prakīrṇakusumotkarām: with heaps of flowers strewn about
• prakīrṇakusumotkarām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kusuma (प्रातिपदिक) + utkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (heaps of flowers strewn); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• rājapraveśasumukhaiḥ: by citizens with happy faces at the king's entry
• rājapraveśasumukhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + praveśa (प्रातिपदिक) + sumukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (having pleasant faces at the king's entry); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying pauraiḥ)

• pauraiḥ: by citizens
• pauraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• maṅgalavādibhiḥ: uttering auspicious cries
• maṅgalavādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (uttering auspicious words/sounds); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying pauraiḥ)

Context

Thereafter, king Dasaratha directed his army to proceed speedily in advance. When he reached the city of Ayodhya it looked welldecorated with flags and banners. It resounded with trumpets. The royal highways were sprinkiled with water and strewn with flowers. It was filled with groups of people. Awaiting with delight the arrival of the king the citizens produced merry sounds with musical instruments.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā (implied)
• flowers
• citizens (paura)

FAQs

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

Social dharma: citizens honor rightful kingship through orderly welcome, auspicious speech, and communal participation in public life.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is depicted as ceremonially prepared—roads cleansed, flowers strewn, and people assembled to greet the king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Civic devotion and collective discipline—public joy expressed within cultural norms of auspicious conduct.