Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 8

अयोध्यानगरवर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya and the Ikshvaku Royal Setting

Devanagari script

राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता ।मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यश: ।।।।

Transliteration

rājamārgeṇa mahatā su-vibhaktena śobhitā | mukta-puṣpāvakīrṇena jala-siktena nityaśaḥ ||

Translation

सा पुरी महता सुविभक्तेन राजमार्गेण शोभिता, मुक्तपुष्पैः प्रकीर्णा, नित्यं जलसिक्तेन च सुस्निग्धा बभौ।

Word by Word

• rāja-mārgeṇa: by/with the royal highway
• rāja-mārgeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (“king’s”/“royal” + “road” = “main road/highway”)

• mahatā: great
• mahatā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of rāja-mārgeṇa

• su-vibhaktena: well-laid-out
• su-vibhaktena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + vibhakta (कृदन्त; √bhaj/भज् + vi- + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of rāja-mārgeṇa (well-arranged/well-laid)

• śobhitā: adorned / splendid
• śobhitā: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासमानाधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śobhita (कृदन्त; √śubh/शुभ् “to shine, be beautiful” + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (mahāpurī understood) “adorned/beautified”

• mukta-puṣpa-avakīrṇena: strewn with fully-blown flowers
• mukta-puṣpa-avakīrṇena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त; √muc/मुच् “to release/open” + क्त) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + avakīrṇa (कृदन्त; ava-√kṝ/कॄ “to scatter” + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (flowers that are “opened/fully-blown” + “strewn”); विशेषण of rāja-mārgeṇa

• jala-siktena: sprinkled with water
• jala-siktena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + sikta (कृदन्त; √sic/सिच् “to sprinkle” + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (“with water” + “sprinkled”); विशेषण of rāja-mārgeṇa

• nityaśaḥ: regularly / always
• nityaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency: “always/regularly”)

Context

It looked splendid with its well-laid out and broad highway strewn with flowers and regularly sprinkled with water.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Public cleanliness and civic beauty are treated as marks of a well-governed community—outer order reflecting inner discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

A further embellishing description of Ayodhyā’s streets and public spaces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Care for the common good—maintenance, cleanliness, and dignified public life.