Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 35

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

अग्रतश्चास्य सन्नद्धाश्चन्दनागरुभूषिताः।।।।खड्गचापधराश्शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.35

Transliteration

agrataś cāsya sannaddhāś candanāgarubhūṣitāḥ |

khaḍgacāpadharāś śūrā jagmur āśaṃsavo janāḥ ||

Translation

अग्रतश्चास्य सन्नद्धाश्चन्दनागरुभूषिताः। खड्गचापधराः शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः॥

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya

• vāditra-śabdāḥ: sounds of instruments
• vāditra-śabdāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = vāditrāṇāṃ śabdāḥ; subject of śuśruvire

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• stuti-śabdāḥ: sounds of praise
• stuti-śabdāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = stuteḥ śabdāḥ; subject of śuśruvire

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• vandinām: of panegyrists
• vandinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; genitive dependent on stuti-śabdāḥ

• siṃha-nādāḥ: lion-roars
• siṃha-nādāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = siṃhasya nādāḥ; subject of śuśruvire

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• śūrāṇām: of warriors
• śūrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; genitive dependent on siṃha-nādāḥ

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya

• śuśruvire: were heard
• śuśruvire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect; 3rd person, Bahuvacana; ātmanepada; impersonal sense 'were heard'

• pathi: on the road
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; locative of place

Context

Then the chief commanders riding the best of the horses and elephants, resembling hills in size, followed Rama in their hundreds and thousands.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• sword (khaḍga)
• bow (cāpa)
• agaru (agarwood)

FAQs

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

Dharma as protective readiness: force is shown as disciplined and ceremonial—meant to uphold order and safeguard the righteous, not to intimidate unjustly.

What is the narrative situation?

A vanguard of armed, ceremonially adorned warriors proceeds ahead of Rāma, acting as heralds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under discipline—valor (śaurya) guided by duty and decorum.