Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 6

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

विध्वस्तकवचां रुग्णगजवाजिरथध्वजाम्। हतप्रवीरामापन्नां चमूमिव महाहवे।।2.114.6।।

Transliteration

vidhvastakavacāṃ rugṇagajavājirathadhvajām | hatapravīrām āpannāṃ camūm iva mahāhave || 2.114.6 ||

Translation

அது பெரும்போரில் சிதைந்த படையெனத் தோன்றியது—கவசங்கள் நொறுங்கி, யானை-குதிரைகள் காயமுற்று, ரதங்களும் கொடிகளும் உடைந்து, வீரர்கள் வீழ்ந்து, முழுப் படையும் துயரில் அகப்பட்டதுபோல்.

Word by Word

• विध्वस्त-कवचाम्: with shattered armours
• विध्वस्त-कवचाम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विध्वस्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विध्वस्तानि कवचानि यस्याम्’—with armours destroyed/scattered

• रुग्ण-गज-वाजि-रथ-ध्वजाम्: with injured elephants, horses, chariots and banners
• रुग्ण-गज-वाजि-रथ-ध्वजाम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुग्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः) ‘गजाः वाजिनः रथाः ध्वजाश्च’—all injured/broken; qualifies ‘चमूम्’ (army)

• हत-प्रवीराम्: with heroic warriors slain
• हत-प्रवीराम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘हताः प्रवीराः यस्याम्’—whose heroes are slain

• आपन्नाम्: in distress
• आपन्नाम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-पद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘आपन्न’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fallen into distress’

• चमूम्: an army
• चमूम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-सूचक

• महाहवे: in a great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th case), एकवचन; ‘महान् आहवः’—great battle

Context

warriors slain in the great battle (the city appeared desolate).

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is depicted as the true ‘strength’ of a polity: without righteous order and rightful guidance, a city’s morale collapses as if after defeat. The verse teaches that ethical legitimacy sustains communal resilience.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is being described as desolate and broken-hearted after Rāma’s exile, compared to a battlefield host ruined by war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as the moral centre of the kingdom is implied; his absence makes the city appear ‘leaderless’ and defeated.