Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 29

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम् · Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: Ayodhya (implied by 'purā ... puram' city-soundscape)

Devanagari script

भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानां कोणसङ्घट्टितः पुनः ॥२९॥

किमद्य शब्दो विरतस्सदा दीनगतिः पुरा ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.29

Transliteration

bherī-mṛdaṅga-vīṇānāṃ koṇa-saṅghaṭṭitaḥ punaḥ ||29||

kim adya śabdo virataḥ sadā dīna-gatiḥ purā |

Translation

Mengapakah hari ini bunyi-bunyian itu terhenti—dentang tanduk yang berlanggar dan bergema berulang-ulang, bersama bunyi genderang besar dan vīṇā? Mengapakah gerak kota terasa pilu, sedangkan dahulu sentiasa meriah?

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानाम्: of drums, mridangas, and vinas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी + मृदङ्ग + वीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list): ‘भेर्यश्च मृदङ्गाश्च वीणाश्च’; स्त्री/पुं मिश्र, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Dvandva

• कोणसङ्घट्टितः: produced by striking
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोण + सङ्घट्टित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘कोणैः सङ्घट्टितः’ (struck by sticks/beaters); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शब्दः-विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (again)
• Role: Prakara (प्रकार)

• किम्: why
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक
• Role: Hetu/Prashna (प्रश्न)

• अद्य: today/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय
• Role: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)

• शब्दः: sound
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• विरतः: ceased/stopped
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√रम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: PPP/क्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शब्दः-विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (always)
• Role: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)

• दीनगतिः: a sad state
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘दीना गतिः’ (sad course/state); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (वाक्ये भाववाचक)
• Role: Bhava (भाव)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• पुरा: formerly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)
• Role: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)

Sandhi Notes

• विरतस्सदा = विरतः + सदा (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + स → स् स)

Context

Why is it that the sounds of musical instruments like mrudangas and veenas are not heard now? Why is the city filled with melancholy?

The teaching

Public joy and civic music depend on righteous order; when adharma or calamity enters, even the city’s 'voice' falls silent.

Ethical theme

Social dharma (rājadharma indicators)

For your practice

Invites contemplation on how inner righteousness sustains outer harmony; encourages repentance and restoration of dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Silenced, mourning, ominous

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Grief
• Public ritual

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Sumantra
• Bheri (kettledrum)
• Vina

FAQs

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

Communal celebration and music often accompany righteous prosperity and public rites. Their sudden cessation signals moral and emotional crisis, reminding that dharma supports not only law but also cultural vitality.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama remarks that the familiar festive and ceremonial sounds of Ayodhya’s instruments are absent, and the city feels weighed down by sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s concern for the collective: he interprets the absence of public joy as a serious sign affecting the entire kingdom, not merely a personal inconvenience.