Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 22

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Setting: Ayodhyā region—royal highway/king’s roadSetting out along the royal road (pre-forest route)

Devanagari script

सचन्द्रतारागणमण्डितं यथा नभः क्षपायाममलं विराजते ।

नरेन्द्रमार्गस्स तथा व्यराजत क्रमेण रम्यः शुभशिल्पिनिर्मितः ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.80.22

Transliteration

sacandratārāgaṇamaṇḍitaṃ yathā nabhaḥ kṣapāyām amalaṃ virājate |

narendramārgaḥ sa tathā vyarājata krameṇa ramyaḥ śubhaśilpinirmitaḥ ||22||

Translation

Jak czyste nocne niebo lśni przyozdobione księżycem i gromadami gwiazd, tak również droga królewska, urocza, uporządkowana właściwie i wykonana przez utalentowanych rzemieślników, lśniła wspaniale.

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Word by Word

• jāhnavīm: the Jāhnavī (Ganga)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• tu: but/and then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• samāsādya: having reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)
• Role: Hetu/Anukāla (हेतु/अनुकाल)

• vividha-druma-kānanām: having groves of various trees
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक) + kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'विविधैः द्रुमैः (युक्तं) काननम्' (grove-forest)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• śītala-amala-pānīyām: with cool, clear water
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śītala (प्रातिपदिक) + amala (प्रातिपदिक) + pānīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'शीतलं च अमलं च (यत्) पानीयम्'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• mahāmīna-samākulām: abounding in large fish
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mīna (प्रातिपदिक) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'महामीनैः समाकुला'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• शीतलामलपानीयाम् = शीतल + अमल + पानीयाम् (compound with vowel coalescence)

Context

The lovely royal road constructed in an orderly fashion by eminent craftsmen looked splendid like the clear sky decorated with by the Moon and clusters of stars.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aśītitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the eightieth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

The teaching

Human order and beauty, when crafted with skill and purpose, can mirror cosmic harmony—dharma expressed as well-made ‘mārga’.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma

For your practice

Meditative reflection on cosmic order (moon-stars) to cultivate inner order and steadiness on one’s path (mārga).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Luminous, ordered, serene

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Itihasa
• Order
• Aesthetics
• Satya

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

FAQs

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

Dharma as order (krama) and clarity (amala): when work is done truthfully and skillfully, it creates a social world as intelligible and dependable as the night-sky’s pattern.

What is the narrative situation?

A concluding description praises the completed royal road, comparing its beauty and orderliness to a moon-and-star-filled sky.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to excellence and truth in workmanship—quality that can be publicly seen and trusted.