Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 94, Shloka 24

चित्रकूटवर्णनम् (Description of Chitrakūṭa) / Rama Shows Sita Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

कुष्ठस्थगरपुन्नाग भूर्जपत्रोत्तरच्छदान्।कामिनां स्वास्तरान्पश्य कुशेशयदलायुतान्।।।।

Transliteration

kuṣṭhasthagarapunnāga bhūrjapatrottaracchadān | kāmināṃ svāstarān paśya kuśeśayadalāyutān ||

Translation

ਕੁਸ਼ਠ, ਸਥਗਰ, ਪੁੰਨਾਗ ਅਤੇ ਭੂਰਜ-ਪੱਤਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਛੌਣਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਢੱਕੇ, ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਸਵਾਸਤਰਾਂ ਵਰਗੇ ਸ਼ਯਨ ਵੇਖੋ; ਉਹ ਕੁਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਯ (ਕਮਲ) ਦੇ ਦਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰੇ ਪਏ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• कुष्ठ-स्थगर-पुन्नाग-भूर्जपत्र-उत्तर-च्छदान्: covered above with (leaves of) kustha, sthagara, punnaga, and birch-leaves
• कुष्ठ-स्थगर-पुन्नाग-भूर्जपत्र-उत्तर-च्छदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थगर (प्रातिपदिक) + पुन्नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + भूर्जपत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; 'उत्तरच्छद' = 'उत्तरेण छदः/आच्छादनम्' (covered above/overlaid)

• कामिनाम्: of lovers
• कामिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सु-आस्तरान्: excellent couches
• सु-आस्तरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (excellent couches/beddings)

• पश्य: see/behold
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• कुशेशय-दल-आयुतान्: provided with lotus-petals
• कुशेशय-दल-आयुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशेशय (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः; 'दलायुत' = 'दलैः आयुतः/युक्तः' (provided with petals)

Context

Behold those excellent couches of lovers spread with leaves of kustha, sthagara, punnaga and bhurja and covered with lotus petals.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Citrakūṭa (context)
• punnāga
• lotus (kuśeśaya)

FAQs

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

The implied dharma is restraint and propriety: even while noting signs of worldly pleasure in the forest, Rāma and Sītā are to remain anchored in righteous conduct and purpose of exile.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma points out traces of human enjoyment in the forest landscape—leaf-beds and lotus petals—while showing Sītā the surroundings of Citrakūṭa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment (viveka)—the ability to observe worldly life without being pulled away from one’s dharmic vow.