Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 17

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

आबध्यन्तां पताकाश्च राजमार्गश्च सिंच्यताम् ।

सर्वे च तालावचरा गणिकाश्च स्वलङ्कृताः ॥१७॥

कक्ष्यां द्वितीयामासाद्य तिष्ठन्तु नृपवेश्मनः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.17

Transliteration

ābadhyantāṃ patākāś ca rājamārgaś ca siñcyatām |

sarve ca tālāvacarā gaṇikāś ca svalaṅkṛtāḥ ||17||

kakṣyāṃ dvitīyām āsādya tiṣṭhantu nṛpaveśmanaḥ |

Translation

పతాకాలు కట్టబడుగాక, రాజమార్గం నీటితో చల్లబడుగాక। సమస్త నాట్యకారులు, గణికలు సువర్ణాభరణాదులతో సుసజ్జితులై రాజభవనపు రెండవ అంతఃప్రాంగణానికి చేరి అక్కడే నిలిచియుండుగాక।

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Word by Word

• ābadhyantām: let (them) be fastened
• ābadhyantām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√bandh (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let (them) be fastened'

• patākāḥ: banners/flags
• patākāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• rāja-mārgaḥ: royal road
• rāja-mārgaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'king’s road/royal highway'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• siñcyatām: let (it) be sprinkled
• siñcyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sic (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be sprinkled'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); विशेषण to tālāvacarāḥ (and others)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tālāvacarāḥ: performers/actors (rhythm-keepers)
• tālāvacarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + avacara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); तत्पुरुष: 'those who move/perform with tāla (rhythm)'

• gaṇikāḥ: courtesans
• gaṇikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• su-alaṅkṛtāḥ: well adorned
• su-alaṅkṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ with alam-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) used adjectivally: 'well-adorned'

• kakṣyām: the enclosure/inner court
• kakṣyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• dvitīyām: second
• dvitīyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण to kakṣyām

• āsādya: having reached
• āsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having reached/approached'

• tiṣṭhantu: let them stand/remain
• tiṣṭhantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl), परस्मैपद

• nṛpa-veśmanaḥ: of the king’s palace
• nṛpa-veśmanaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'of the king’s residence/palace'

Context

Banners be fastened and royal highways be sprinkled with water. All actors and beautifully adorned courtesans should reach the second inner apartment of the king's residence and remain seated there.

Characters & Entities

• patākā (banners)
• rājamārga (royal road)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma includes orderly public celebration: cleanliness, visible auspicious symbols, and regulated placement of participants to prevent disorder.

What is the narrative situation?

Civic and palace logistics are commanded for the upcoming consecration festivities—decorations, road-sprinkling, and positioning of entertainers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative foresight: the ruler’s concern extends to public hygiene, ceremonial beauty, and disciplined organization.