Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.48: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 48

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

करेणुमातंङ्गरथाश्वसंकुलं महाजनौघ परिपूर्णचत्वरम् ।

प्रभूतरत्नं बहुपण्यसञ्चयं ददर्श रामो रुचिरं महापथम् ॥४८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.48

Transliteration

kareṇumātaṅgarathāśvasaṅkulaṃ mahājanaughaparipūrṇacatvaram |

prabhūtaratnaṃ bahupaṇyasañcayaṃ dadarśa rāmo ruciraṃ mahāpatham ||48||

Translation

Rama menyaksikan jalan besar yang indah, sesak dengan gajah betina, gajah, rata dan kuda; simpang-simpangnya penuh dengan lautan manusia; kaya permata serta melimpah dengan timbunan dagangan.

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Word by Word

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (as)

• sma: indeed/then (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपातः (past-time particle, with past narration)

• poṣitāḥ: nurtured/raised
• poṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √puṣ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; वयम् इति कर्तृ-भावे (we, having been nurtured)

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम्

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; पितामहैः इति विशेषणम्

• pitāmahaiḥ: by grandfathers/forefathers
• pitāmahaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः-शब्दः अव्ययत्वेन (thereafter/then)

• sukha-taram: more happily
• sukha-taram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• rāme: when Rama (is)
• rāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Loc sg: 'when Rama...')

• vatsyāmaḥ: we shall live
• vatsyāmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Future), उत्तम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• sati: when (he) is
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तं वर्तमान-कृदन्तम्, पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे (locative absolute: 'when ... being')

• rājani: as king
• rājani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; sati इत्यनेन सह सप्तमी-सम्बन्धः (locative absolute)

Context

Rama beheld the beautiful highway filled with precious stones and merchandise (for sale), thronged with elephants, horses and chariots, the crossroads crowded with multitude of people.इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षोडशस्सर्गः।।Thus ends the sixteenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya (implied by setting)

FAQs

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

Dharma is reflected in civic prosperity under righteous governance: orderly crowds, commerce, and wealth symbolize a society functioning within moral and social law.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama proceeds, he observes Ayodhya’s main thoroughfare bustling with people, vehicles, animals, and trade.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s suitability for kingship is implied: the city’s orderly abundance anticipates rule aligned with dharma and public welfare.