Valmiki Ramayana 2.98.16 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 16

चित्रकूटप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters the Forest Toward Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

स गिरेश्चित्रकूटस्य सालमासाद्य पुष्पितम्।रामाश्रमगतस्याग्नेर्ददर्श ध्वजमुच्छ्रितम्।।2.98.16।।

Transliteration

sa gireś citrakūṭasya sālam āsādya puṣpitam |

rāmāśramagatasya agner dadarśa dhvajam ucchritam ||2.98.16||

Translation

Setibanya di sisi sebatang pokok śāla yang sedang berbunga di Gunung Chitrakūṭa, baginda melihat dari api di pertapaan Rāma naik segumpal asap yang tinggi, tegak bagaikan panji.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• gireḥ: of the mountain
• gireḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• citrakūṭasya: of Chitrakuta
• citrakūṭasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citrakūṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; proper noun

• sālam: śāla tree(s)
• sālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; collective sense ‘śāla-grove/śāla tree(s)’

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यबन्त) with prefix ā-; ‘having reached/approached’

• puṣpitam: flowering
• puṣpitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying sālam

• rāmāśramagatasya: of (the fire) in Rama’s hermitage
• rāmāśramagatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma-āśrama-gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘gone to/located at Rama’s hermitage’ qualifying agneḥ

• agneḥ: of the fire
• agneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• dadarśa: saw, beheld
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• dhvajam: banner; (here) column/sign
• dhvajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ucchritam: raised high
• ucchritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-śrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (क्त) PPP from √śri with ud-; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifying dhvajam

Context

On seeing the smoke, majestic Bharata in the company of relatives concluded that Rama was staying there and rejoiced like a man who had reached the other bank of the river.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Chitrakūṭa
• Rama
• fire (agni)
• śāla tree (sāla)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to āśrama-life and sacred order: the hermitage fire signifies disciplined living, hospitality, and truth-bound vows in exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata visually locates Rama’s hermitage by noticing the smoke rising from the sacrificial/domestic fire.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s adherence to righteous living even in exile—maintaining the sacred fire and āśrama discipline—is emphasized.