Valmiki Ramayana 2.83.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 3

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

नवनागसहस्राणि कल्पितानि यथाविधि।अन्वयुर्भरतं यान्तमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनम्।।2.83.3।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.83.3

Transliteration

navanāgasahasrāṇi kalpitāni yathāvidhi |

anvayur bharataṃ yāntam ikṣvākukulanandanam || 2.83.3 ||

Translation

विधिपूर्वक सजविलेले नऊ हजार गजराज, इक्ष्वाकुकुलनंदन भरत निघताच त्याच्या मागोमाग चालू लागले।

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Word by Word

• nava: nine
• nava: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), used as compound-member (समासाङ्ग), indeclinable-like in compounds

• nāga: elephant
• nāga: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine stem used as compound-member (समासाङ्ग)

• sahasrāṇi: thousands (nine thousand)
• sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); head of dvigu compound: nava-nāga-sahasrāṇi = 'nine-thousand (of) elephants'

• kalpitāni: arranged, prepared
• kalpitāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kḷp (कॢप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with sahasrāṇi

• yathāvidhi: according to rule, as prescribed
• yathāvidhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• anvayuḥ: followed
• anvayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + i (इ धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāntam: going, proceeding
• yāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yā (या धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies bharatam

• ikṣvāku-kula-nandanam: delight of the Ikshvaku lineage
• ikṣvāku-kula-nandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'delight of the Ikṣvāku family'

Context

As per tradition, nine thousand elephants were arranged to follow Bharata, delight ofthe race of the Ikshvakus as he set out.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• elephants

FAQs

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

Dharma as ordered tradition (yathāvidhi): even in grief and urgency, the kingdom maintains disciplined procedure, reflecting stability and legitimacy in public action.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata travels with a vast royal retinue; the text details the scale and orderly arrangement of the accompanying forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s public responsibility as an Ikṣvāku prince—moving with due order and dignity befitting a guardian of the realm.