Valmiki Ramayana 2.83.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 2

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

अग्रतः प्रययुस्तस्य सर्वे मन्त्रिपुरोधसः।अधिरुह्य हयैर्युक्तान्रथान्सूर्यरथोपमान्।।2.83.2।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.83.2

Transliteration

agrataḥ prayayus tasya sarve mantripurodhasaḥ |

adhiruhya hayair yuktān rathān sūryarathopamān || 2.83.2 ||

Translation

अग्रतः प्रययुस्तस्य सर्वे मन्त्रिपुरोधसः, हयैर्युक्तान् सूर्यरथोपमान् रथानधिरुह्य।

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Word by Word

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front)

• prayayuḥ: went forth
• prayayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• tasya: of him (Bharata)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• mantripurodhasaḥ: ministers and priests
• mantripurodhasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin + purohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: मन्त्रिणः च पुरोधसः च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• adhiruhya: having mounted
• adhiruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त; ‘having mounted’

• hayaiḥ: with horses
• hayaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• yuktān: harnessed
• yuktān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक; √yuj क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of rathān)

• rathān: chariots
• rathān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• sūryarathopamān: like the Sun's chariot
• sūryarathopamān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya + ratha + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समास: सूर्यस्य रथस्य उपमाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; ‘comparable to the Sun’s chariot’)

Context

All the ministers and priests went ahead of Bharata mounting their chariots, harnessed with horses and resembling the chariot of the Sun god.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ministers
• Priests
• Sūrya (Sun)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as orderly governance: ministers and priests precede the prince, symbolizing that statecraft and sacred counsel together guide public action in a righteous polity.

What is the narrative situation?

At the start of the march, the political and ritual leadership of Ayodhyā moves ahead of Bharata in a formal procession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Institutional discipline and respect for counsel—Bharata’s undertaking is framed as guided by responsible advisors and priests.