Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 27

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

बहिर्यात्रां न गच्छन्ति चित्रमाल्यधरा नराः। नोत्सवा स्सम्प्रवर्तन्ते रामशोकार्दिते पुरे।।2.114.27।।

Transliteration

bahiryātrāṁ na gacchanti citramālyadharā narāḥ |

not­savāḥ sampravartante rāmaśokārditē pure ||2.114.27||

Translation

ਰਾਮ ਦੇ ਸ਼ੋਕ ਨਾਲ ਪੀੜਤ ਇਸ ਨਗਰ ਵਿੱਚ, ਰੰਗ-ਬਿਰੰਗੀਆਂ ਮਾਲਾਵਾਂ ਪਹਿਨੇ ਲੋਕ ਹੁਣ ਬਾਹਰ ਵਿਹਾਰ-ਯਾਤਰਾ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਂਦੇ; ਉਤਸਵ ਵੀ ਕਦੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ।

Word by Word

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Deśa (देश/Place adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (spatial adverb/देश-अव्यय)

• yātrām: excursion/outing
• yātrām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of gacchanti

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation (प्रतिषेध)

• gacchanti: go
• gacchanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada; √gam

• citra-mālya-dharāḥ: wearing variegated garlands
• citra-mālya-dharāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘citrāṇi mālyāni dharanti’ (wearers of variegated garlands); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; apposition/qualifier of narāḥ

• narāḥ: men
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; subject of gacchanti

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation (प्रतिषेध)

• utsavāḥ: festivals
• utsavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; subject of sampravartante

• sampravartante: take place/are celebrated
• sampravartante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; Ātmanepada; with prefix sam-pra-; √vṛt ‘to proceed/occur’

• rāma-śoka-ardite: afflicted by grief for Rāma
• rāma-śoka-ardite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + ardita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘rāmasya śokena arditam’ (afflicted by grief for Rāma); Napuṃsaka/puṃ? here agreeing with pure (locative singular of pura, neuter); Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; qualifying pure

• pure: in the city
• pure: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana

Context

This city is stricken with grief on account of Rama's departure. Men do not go out on pleasure jaunts wearing garlands of variegated flowers. Festivities are not celebrated.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ayodhya

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as communal solidarity and moral seriousness: celebration is restrained when injustice and suffering prevail, implying that joy is ethically timed and socially responsible.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata describes Ayodhya’s social life coming to a halt—no outings, no festivals—because the city is overwhelmed by sorrow for Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The citizens’ loyalty and reverence for Rama, expressed through voluntary austerity and cessation of festivities.