Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 22

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

सचन्द्रतारागणमण्डितं यथा नभः क्षपायाममलं विराजते।नरेन्द्रमार्गस्स तथा व्यराजत क्रमेण रम्यः शुभशिल्पिनिर्मितः।।।।

Transliteration

sacandratārāgaṇamaṇḍitaṃ yathā nabhaḥ kṣapāyām amalaṃ virājate | narendramārgaḥ sa tathā vyarājata krameṇa ramyaḥ śubhaśilpinirmitaḥ ||

Translation

சந்திரன் மற்றும் நட்சத்திரக் கூட்டங்களால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட தூய இரவுக் வானம் எவ்வாறு ஒளிர்கின்றதோ, அவ்வாறே அரசனின் பாதையும் ஒழுங்குடன், இனிமையுடன், நல்வினைஞர் கலைஞர்களால் அமைக்கப்பட்டதாகப் பிரகாசித்தது.

Word by Word

• jāhnavīm: the Jāhnavī (Ganga)
• jāhnavīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāhnavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• tu: but/and then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• samāsādya: having reached
• samāsādya: Hetu/Anukāla (हेतु/अनुकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• vividha-druma-kānanām: having groves of various trees
• vividha-druma-kānanām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक) + kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'विविधैः द्रुमैः (युक्तं) काननम्' (grove-forest)

• śītala-amala-pānīyām: with cool, clear water
• śītala-amala-pānīyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śītala (प्रातिपदिक) + amala (प्रातिपदिक) + pānīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'शीतलं च अमलं च (यत्) पानीयम्'

• mahāmīna-samākulām: abounding in large fish
• mahāmīna-samākulām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mīna (प्रातिपदिक) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'महामीनैः समाकुला'

Context

Clearing and cutting branches of various trees and creepers, shrubs, plants branchless trees and hewing boulders, the road was paved by the king's men.

FAQs

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

Dharma as order (krama) and clarity (amala): when work is done truthfully and skillfully, it creates a social world as intelligible and dependable as the night-sky’s pattern.

What is the narrative situation?

A concluding description praises the completed royal road, comparing its beauty and orderliness to a moon-and-star-filled sky.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to excellence and truth in workmanship—quality that can be publicly seen and trusted.