Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.47: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 47

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Setting: अयोध्या (palace-to-court/processional route)Within-city ceremonial movement (procession)

Devanagari script

स घोषवद्भिश्च मतङ्गाजैर्ययैः पुरस्सरै स्स्वस्तिकसूतमागधैः ।

महीयमानः प्रवरैश्च वादकै रभिष्टुतो वैश्रवणो यथा ययौ ॥४७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.47

Transliteration

sa ghoṣavadbhiś ca mataṅgajair hayaiḥ purassaraiḥ svastikasūtamāgadhaiḥ |

mahīyamānaḥ pravaraiś ca vādakair abhiṣṭuto vaiśravaṇo yathā yayau ||47||

Translation

Z trąbiącymi słoniami i dudniącymi końmi, z bardami i panegirystami idącymi przed nim, śpiewającymi pomyślne błogosławieństwa, i wychwalany przez najznakomitszych muzyków, Rama postępował w majestacie jak Waisrawana.

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Word by Word

• kareṇu-mātaṅga-ratha-aśva-saṃkulam: crowded with female elephants, elephants, chariots and horses
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kareṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (करेणवश्च मातङ्गाश्च रथाश्च अश्वाश्च) तैः संकुलम्; महापथम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Dvandva

• mahā-jana-ogha-paripūrṇa-catvaram: whose squares/intersections were filled with crowds
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक) + paripūrṇa (कृदन्त; pari-√pṝ + क्त) + catvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (mahājanaughena paripūrṇaṃ catvaram) महापथम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• prabhūta-ratnam: rich in gems
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (prabhūtāni ratnāni yasmin)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• bahu-paṇya-sañcayam: having abundant merchandise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + paṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + sañcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (bahūni paṇyāni, teṣāṃ sañcayaḥ) महापथम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• dadarśa: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ruciram: beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; महापथम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• mahā-patham: the great road
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (mahān pathaḥ)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• करेणुमातङ्गरथाश्वसंकुलम् = करेणु + मातङ्ग + रथ + अश्व + संकुलम् (समाहार-द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपदसमूह)
• महाजनौघपरिपूर्णचत्वरम् = महाजनौघ + परिपूर्ण + चत्वरम्
• बहुपण्यसञ्चयम् = बहु + पण्य + सञ्चयम्

Context

With bards, panegyrists and great musical performers invoking blessings and walking ahead, he (Rama) proceeded, like Kubera amid intoxicated elephants and horses.

The teaching

Public honor and auspicious proclamation support social cohesion when centered on a dharmic leader; ceremony becomes a vehicle of loka-saṅgraha.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma (public order)

Devotion and practice

Kīrtana-bhāva: remembrance of the Lord through praise, music, and auspicious speech; supports nāma-saṅkīrtana practice.

Deity praised

Rama (praised by bards and musicians)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Processional, auspicious, majestic

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Rajadharma
• Auspicious rites

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vaishravana (Kubera)
• Suta (bards)
• Magadha (panegyrists)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as collective social order: the kingdom honors rightful leadership through auspicious, disciplined public ritual rather than disorderly celebration.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama moves in a grand, auspicious procession accompanied by elephants, horses, bards, and musicians.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s public legitimacy and dignity—he is received in a manner fitting a ruler whose life is grounded in satya and dharma.