Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 4
मर्गनिर्माणम्
Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata
Setting: Ayodhyā and its approach roads (implied)Crowd moving toward the designated gathering place
स तु हर्षात्तमुद्देशं जनौघो विपुलः प्रयान् ।
अशोभत महावेगस्समुद्र इव पर्वणि ॥४॥
sa tu harṣāt tam uddeśaṃ janaugho vipulaḥ prayān |
aśobhata mahāvegaḥ samudra iva parvaṇi ||4||
Ta ogromna tłuszcza ludzi, wędrując radośnie do wyznaczonego miejsca, przemieszczała się z wielką prędkością, wspaniała jak ocean wezbrany w pełnię księżyca świątecznego.
Sandhi Notes
- हर्षात्तमुद्देशं → हर्षात् तम् उद्देशम् (त् + त → त्त; म् + उ → मु)
- जनौघो → जनौघः (ओ → अः before pause)
- महावेगस्समुद्र → महावेगः समुद्रः (अः + स → स्स, visarga restored)
Like a swollen ocean on a full-moon day the multitude of people proceeded joyfully with great speed to the appointed place.
The teaching
When leadership sets a clear purpose, collective energy can move in harmony—orderly enthusiasm becomes strength rather than chaos.
- Ethical theme
- Loka-saṅgraha / civic harmony
For your practice
Cultivates bhāva of shared uplift—satsaṅga-like collective joy directed toward a worthy aim.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Surging, festive, magnificent
Themes
- Itihasa
- SocialOrder
- Dharma
- Community
- Journey
Ocean-swell metaphor parallels Brahman/ānanda imagery where multiplicity rises and falls in one vastness (metaphorical, not doctrinally asserted).
‘Ānanda’ and ‘samudra’ metaphors occur across Upaniṣadic imagination (e.g., fullness/overflow), here echoed poetically rather than quoted.
Pūrṇimā (implied by parvaṇi imagery)
Festival-tide comparison (parvaṇi)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.80 (crowd movement and preparations)
Vedic parvan/festival imagery; ocean as a standard poetic upamā in kāvya tradition
Ayodhyākāṇḍa crowd scenes around royal decisions and public gatherings (contextual)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Joyful
Slightly elevated pitch on upamā (samudra iva), flowing tempo to mimic surge
FAQs
Collective discipline in public life: a community moves together toward a shared duty, suggesting social harmony and coordinated action.
After preparations begin, the large body of people proceeds swiftly and happily toward the planned destination.
Public spirit and unity—people cooperate and move with shared purpose rather than disorder.
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