Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 12

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

निर्जलेषु च देशेषु खानयामासुरुत्तमान्।उदपानान्बहुविधान्वेदिकापरिमण्डितान्।।।।

Transliteration

nirjaleṣu ca deśeṣu khānayāmāsur uttamān |

udapānān bahuvidhān vedikāparimaṇḍitān ||

Translation

ਅਤੇ ਜਲਹੀਨ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਉੱਤਮ ਅਨੇਕਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਉਦਪਾਨ—ਪੀਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਕੂਏਂ—ਖੁਦਵਾਏ, ਜੋ ਵੇਦਿਕਾ (ਉੱਚੇ ਚਬੂਤਰਿਆਂ) ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆਤਮਕ ਘੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਸਨ।

Word by Word

• nirjaleṣu: in waterless (places)
• nirjaleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-jala (निर्जल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana; nañ/tatpuruṣa sense 'without water'; used adjectivally with deśeṣu

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• deśeṣu: in places
• deśeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (देश-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Bahuvacana

• khānayāmāsuḥ: caused to be dug / dug
• khānayāmāsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √khan (खन्, to dig) causative
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; causative (णिच्) stem khānayā-; parasmaipada

• uttamān: excellent / best
• uttamān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (उत्तम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying udapānān

• udapānān: wells (for drinking water)
• udapānān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udapāna (उदपान-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• bahuvidhān: various
• bahuvidhān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahuvidha (बहुविध-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: bahavaḥ vidhāḥ (many kinds); qualifying udapānān

• vedikā-parimaṇḍitān: surrounded/adorned with platforms (dykes)
• vedikā-parimaṇḍitān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vedikā + parimaṇḍita (परिमण्डित-प्रातिपदिक, PPP from pari+√maṇḍ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: vedikayā parimaṇḍitāḥ (adorned/surrounded with a platform/embankment)

Context

In arid places, various good drinking-water-wells surrounded by dykes were dug.

Characters & Entities

• vedikā (platform/embankment)
• Bharata (implied by sarga context)

FAQs

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

Compassionate duty: providing drinking water in arid places is a classic dharmic act, aligning governance with protection of life and alleviation of suffering.

What is the narrative situation?

Preparations for Bharata’s travel include digging and finishing wells where water is scarce.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Care for dependents and travelers—thoughtful provisioning that anticipates human need.