Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 5

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhyā (departure staging)Places named: āraṇya (forest routes)Mobilization for forest-bound travel

Devanagari script

आयुधानि च मुख्यानि नागरा श्शकटानि च ।

अनुगच्छन्तु काकुत्स्थं व्याधाश्चारण्य गोचराः ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.36.5

Transliteration

āyudhāni ca mukhyāni nāgarāḥ śakaṭāni ca |

anugacchantu kākutsthaṃ vyādhāś cāraṇyagocarāḥ ||5||

Translation

मुख्यानि आयुधानि, नागराः शकटानि च काकुत्स्थमनुगच्छन्तु; व्याधाश्च आरण्यगोचराः अपि सह यान्तु॥

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Word by Word

• nighnan: slaying
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) from √han with ni-; Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Singular; agrees with implied subject (Rāma)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)

• mṛgān: deer
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• kuñjarān: elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative, Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• piban: drinking
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) from √pā; Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Singular; agrees with subject
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• āraṇyakam: forest-produced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āraṇyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular; qualifies madhu
• Role: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)

• madhu: honey
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• nadīḥ: rivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative, Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• vividhāḥ: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative, Plural; qualifies nadīḥ
• Role: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)

• paśyan: seeing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) from √dṛś; Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/negation)

• rājyasya: of the kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Genitive (6th), Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• smariṣyati: will remember
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• kuñjarāṅśca = kuñjarān + ca
• pibaṅścāraṇyakam = piban + ca + āraṇyakam
• nadīśca = nadīḥ + ca
• paśyanna = paśyan + na

Context

Main weapons, citizens (bodyguards), carts, wanderers in the forest and fowlers well-acquainted with the forest shall follow Rama.

The teaching

When dharma’s path turns difficult, preparedness and right companionship become safeguards.

Duties in tension

• Protecting Rāma in exile vs the exile’s intent to diminish him
• Civic loyalty to the prince vs obedience to royal command

Ethical theme

Kṣātra-dharma / sāhāyya-dharma (duty of assistance)

How it resolves

Pragmatic support (escort and provisioning)

For your practice

Cultivating readiness and disciplined support for righteous action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Prepared, martial, forward-moving

Themes

• Dharma
• Protection of the righteous
• Logistics
• Royal security

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kākutstha)
• Weapons (āyudha)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes safeguarding the righteous: providing security, transport, and knowledgeable guides is a kingly obligation, especially when hardship (forest travel) is involved.

What is the narrative situation?

Practical directions are given for what and who should accompany Rāma—arms, vehicles, and forest-skilled personnel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Foresight and protective care—ensuring that a vulnerable journey is supported by resources and expert guidance.