Valmiki Ramayana 2.88.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 88, Shloka 6
रामशय्यादर्शनम्
Bharata Beholds Rama’s Forest Bed
प्रासादाग्रविमानेषु वलभीषु च सर्वदा।हैमराजतभौमेषु वरास्तरणशालिषु।।2.88.5।।पुष्पसञ्चयचित्रेषु चन्दनागरुगन्धिषु।पाण्डुराभ्रप्रकाशेषु शुकसङ्घरूतेषुच।।2.88.6।।प्रासादवरवर्येषु शीतवत्सु सुगन्धिषु।उषित्वामेरुकल्पेषु कृतकाञ्चन भित्तिषु।।2.88.7।।गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषैर्वराभरणनिस्स्वनैः।मृदङ्गवरशब्दैश्च सततं प्रतिबोधितः।।2.88.8।।वन्दिभिर्वन्दितः काले बहुभि स्सूतमागधैः।गाथाभिरनुरूपाभि स्स्तुतिभिश्च परन्तपः।।2.88.9।।
prāsādāgravimāneṣu valabhīṣu ca sarvadā |
haimarājatabhaumeṣu varāstaraṇaśāliṣu ||
puṣpasañcayacitreṣu candanāgarugandhiṣu |
pāṇḍurābhraprakāśeṣu śukasaṅgharuteṣu ca ||
prāsādavaravaryeṣu śītavatsu sugandhiṣu |
uṣitvā merukalpeṣu kṛtakāñcanabhittiṣu ||
gītavāditranirghoṣair varābharaṇanissvanaiḥ |
mṛdaṅgavaraśabdaiś ca satataṃ pratibodhitaḥ ||
vandibhir vanditaḥ kāle bahubhiḥ sūtamāgadhaiḥ |
gāthābhir anurūpābhiḥ stutibhiś ca parantapaḥ ||
Rāma, penunduk musuh, dahulu sentiasa bersemayam di loteng dan kamar-kamar tinggi istana yang gemilang: lantainya bertatah emas dan perak, terhampar dengan alas terbaik; dihiasi timbunan bunga, semerbak cendana dan gaharu. Puncak-puncak istana itu bersinar laksana awan putih pucat, bergema dengan kicau kawanan burung nuri; sejuk dan harum, berdinding bersalut emas, megah bagaikan Gunung Meru. Di sana baginda kerap dibangunkan oleh nyanyian dan bunyi alat muzik, oleh gemerincing halus perhiasan, dan oleh paluan gendang yang mulia; pada waktunya, ramai penyair, ahli salasilah, dan pemuji datang memberi hormat dengan lagu serta pujian yang sepadan.
How could Rama, the best among men used to a bed made of a pile of excellent spreads and overspread with deer skin, sleep on the bare ground?
FAQs
The verse underscores the moral contrast between rightful royal dignity and forced deprivation. Dharma is framed as the proper order of life: when a righteous person is displaced from his rightful station, society experiences ethical rupture.
Bharata recalls Rama’s former life of royal refinement to heighten the tragedy of Rama’s exile and to underline how unnatural and unjust the reversal feels.
Rama’s worthiness (arhatā) by implication—he was honored by the best of courtly culture—alongside Bharata’s deep remorse and sense of responsibility.
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