Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 16

अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः

Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined

Setting: AyodhyāPlaces named: rājamārga (royal highways)

Devanagari script

बृन्दबृन्दैरयोध्यायां राजमार्गास्समन्ततः ।

बभूवुरभिसम्बाधाः कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.5.16

Transliteration

bṛndabṛndair ayodhyāyāṃ rājamārgāḥ samantataḥ |

babhūvur abhisambādhāḥ kutūhalajanair vṛtāḥ ||16||

Translation

W Ajodhji królewskie gościce z każdej strony stały się gęsto zatłoczone, ściśnięte przez gromady ciekawskich mieszkańców miasta.

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Word by Word

• bṛnda-bṛndaiḥ: by crowds upon crowds
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛnda (प्रातिपदिक) + bṛnda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (iterative/collocation: ‘crowds upon crowds’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Dvandva

• ayodhyāyām: in Ayodhyā
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• rāja-mārgāḥ: the royal highways
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘royal roads’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• samantataḥ: on all sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/परितोवाचक-अव्यय (on all sides)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• babhūvuḥ: became/were
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)

• abhisambādhāḥ: densely crowded/jammed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhisambādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of rāja-mārgāḥ)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• kutūhala-janaiḥ: by curious people
• Type: Noun
• Root: kutūhala (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘curiosity-people’ = curious people); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• vṛtāḥ: surrounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि (surrounded)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• बृन्दबृन्दैरयोध्यायाम् = बृन्दबृन्दैः + अयोध्यायाम्
• राजमार्गास्समन्ततः = राजमार्गाः + समन्ततः
• कुतूहलजनैर्वृताः = कुतूहलजनैः + वृताः

Context

The royal highways in the city of Ayodhya were jammed on all sides with groups of curious people.

The teaching

Public joy around righteous leadership becomes a social force that gathers the community into shared auspicious action.

Ethical theme

Civic virtue / prajā-prīti

For your practice

Cultivates smṛti of maṅgala-kārya: approaching sacred events with collective goodwill and inner readiness.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Bustling, anticipatory, festive

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Civic life
• Public anticipation

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Dharma as civic unity: the populace collectively turns toward a righteous event, reflecting shared values and social cohesion.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā’s main roads are overflowing with crowds eager for the impending royal ceremony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not an individual virtue, but the people’s collective enthusiasm for righteous kingship and auspicious order.