Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 17

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

आबध्यन्तां पताकाश्च राजमार्गश्च सिंच्यताम्।सर्वे च तालावचरा गणिकाश्च स्वलङ्कृताः।।।।कक्ष्यां द्वितीयामासाद्य तिष्ठन्तु नृपवेश्मनः।

Transliteration

ābadhyantāṃ patākāś ca rājamārgaś ca siñcyatām | sarve ca tālāvacarā gaṇikāś ca svalaṅkṛtāḥ || kakṣyāṃ dvitīyām āsādya tiṣṭhantu nṛpaveśmanaḥ |

Translation

ਝੰਡੇ-ਪਤਾਕੇ ਬੰਨ੍ਹੇ ਜਾਣ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜਮਾਰਗ ਉੱਤੇ ਜਲ ਛਿੜਕਿਆ ਜਾਵੇ। ਸਭ ਤਾਲਾਵਚਰ (ਵਾਜੇ-ਨਾਚ ਦੇ ਕਲਾਕਾਰ) ਅਤੇ ਗਣਿਕਾਵਾਂ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਅਲੰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਜ ਕੇ ਰਾਜ ਮਹਲ ਦੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਅੰਗਣ/ਕੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਕੇ ਉੱਥੇ ਖੜੀਆਂ ਰਹਿਣ।

Word by Word

• ābadhyantām: let (them) be fastened
• ābadhyantām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√bandh (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let (them) be fastened'

• patākāḥ: banners/flags
• patākāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• rāja-mārgaḥ: royal road
• rāja-mārgaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'king’s road/royal highway'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• siñcyatām: let (it) be sprinkled
• siñcyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sic (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be sprinkled'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); विशेषण to tālāvacarāḥ (and others)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tālāvacarāḥ: performers/actors (rhythm-keepers)
• tālāvacarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + avacara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); तत्पुरुष: 'those who move/perform with tāla (rhythm)'

• gaṇikāḥ: courtesans
• gaṇikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• su-alaṅkṛtāḥ: well adorned
• su-alaṅkṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ with alam-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) used adjectivally: 'well-adorned'

• kakṣyām: the enclosure/inner court
• kakṣyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• dvitīyām: second
• dvitīyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण to kakṣyām

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having reached/approached'

• tiṣṭhantu: let them stand/remain
• tiṣṭhantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl), परस्मैपद

• nṛpa-veśmanaḥ: of the king’s palace
• nṛpa-veśmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'of the king’s residence/palace'

Context

Persons to cater food and other eatables and to hold garlands and gifts be stationed at all temples and other places of worship.

Characters & Entities

• patākā (banners)
• rājamārga (royal road)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma includes orderly public celebration: cleanliness, visible auspicious symbols, and regulated placement of participants to prevent disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

Civic and palace logistics are commanded for the upcoming consecration festivities—decorations, road-sprinkling, and positioning of entertainers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative foresight: the ruler’s concern extends to public hygiene, ceremonial beauty, and disciplined organization.