Valmiki Ramayana 2.97.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 24

भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival

Chitrakuta Encampment

Devanagari script

एतौ तौ सम्प्रकाशेते गोत्रवन्तौ मनोरमौ।वायुवेगसमौ वीर जवनौ तुरगोत्तमौ।।।।

Transliteration

etau tau samprakāśete gotravantau manoramau | vāyuvegā-samau vīra javanau turagottamau ||

Translation

हे वीरा! पाहा, हे दोन श्रेष्ठ अश्व—उच्च कुळातील, मनोहर, अतिवेगवान—वाऱ्यासारख्या गतीचे—तेजाने उजळून दिसत आहेत।

Word by Word

• etau: these two
• etau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

• samprakāśete: shine/appear clearly
• samprakāśete: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√kāś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• gotravantau: of noble lineage
• gotravantau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gotra-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गोत्रं अस्ति यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

• manoramau: charming
• manoramau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manorama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (मनः रमयति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

• vāyu-vega-samau: equal to the speed of wind
• vāyu-vega-samau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वायोः वेगः तेन समौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• javanau: swift (two)
• javanau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: javana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

• turagottamau: the best of horses
• turagottamau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaga (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तुरगाणाम् उत्तमौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा द्विवचन (Nominative dual)

Context

O valiant warrior, you can see those two splendid horses of high pedigree, charming, swift and equal to wind in speed are shining (in the army).

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma of vigilance: careful observation supports right action, especially when discerning who approaches in a sensitive situation.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa points out visible signs of a royal party—splendid horses—suggesting a significant arrival.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and martial competence—Lakṣmaṇa notices and reports key details promptly.