Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 20

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः।तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः।।2.80.18।।प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः।पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः।।2.80.19।।विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः।समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः।।2.80.20।।

Transliteration

visarpadbhir ivākāśe viṭaṅkāgravimānakaiḥ | samucchritair niveśās te babhuḥ śakrapuropamāḥ ||

Translation

Dengan rumah-rumah besar yang menjulang dan bumbung puncaknya seakan-akan merambat ke langit, kediaman-kediaman itu berdiri megah—bagaikan kota kayangan milik Śakra (Dewa Indra).

Word by Word

• kūpakārāḥ: well-diggers/well-makers
• kūpakārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūpa-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'कूपान् करोति' / 'कूपस्य कारः'

• sudhākārāḥ: plasterers/whitewashers
• sudhākārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudhā-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सुधायाः काराः'

• vaṃśa-karma-kṛtaḥ: bamboo-workers
• vaṃśa-karma-kṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'वंशकर्म कुर्वन्ति' (bamboo-work doers)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• samarthāḥ: capable
• samarthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ye: who/those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• draṣṭāraḥ: overseers/supervisors
• draṣṭāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: draṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √dṛś)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• purataḥ: in front/ahead
• purataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) स्थानवाचक

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• pratasthire: set out/departed
• pratasthire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Context

Like a swollen ocean on a full-moon day the multitude of people proceeded joyfully with great speed to the appointed place.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes creating environments that reflect order and harmony; the ‘heavenly city’ simile links good governance with a near-cosmic ideal of well-arranged life.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator praises the completed residences/encampment structures as towering and radiant, likened to Indra’s city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Excellence (utkṛṣṭatā) in execution—craftsmanship and planning that aim at an ideal standard.