Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.29-30: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shlokas 29-30
सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्
Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King
मेघनादमसम्बाधं मणिहेमविभूषितम् ।
मुष्णन्तमिव चक्षूंषि प्रभया सूर्यवर्चसम् ॥२९॥
करेणुशिशुकल्पैश्च युक्तं परमवाजिभिः ।
हरियुक्तं सहस्राक्षो रथमिन्द्र इवाशुगम् ॥३०॥
प्रययौ तूर्णमास्थाय राघवो ज्वलितश्श्रिया ।
meghanādamasambādhaṃ maṇihemavibhūṣitam |
muṣṇantamiva cakṣūṃṣi prabhayā sūryavarcasam ||29||
kareṇuśiśukalpaiśca yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ |
hariyuktaṃ sahasrākṣo rathamindra ivāśugam ||30||
prayayau tūrṇamāsthāya rāghavo jvalitaśśriyā |
รถศึกนั้นกึกก้องดุจเสียงเมฆคำราม กว้างใหญ่ไม่คับแคบ ประดับด้วยแก้วมณีและทองคำ รัศมีของมันประหนึ่งชิงเอาสายตา ส่องสว่างดุจเดชสุริยัน ผูกเทียมด้วยม้าชั้นยอด องอาจดุจลูกช้างสาว และเป็นรถเทียมม้าสีเขียว แล่นฉับไวประหนึ่งรถของพระอินทร์ผู้มีพันเนตร
The sound emanating from the chariot resembled the thunder. The spacious chariot was decorated with gold and gems which dazzled the eyes as though they shed the lustre of the Sun. The swiftmoving chariot was harnessed by excellent horses as if they were young elephants. Like the thousandeyed Indra, Rama, ablaze with royal splendour, mounted this chariot and sped away.
FAQs
Dharma here is expressed through royal maryādā: splendor and power are portrayed as instruments of righteous kingship—public order, protection, and legitimacy—rather than personal indulgence.
The narration describes the majestic chariot prepared for Rāma and his swift movement as he sets out, framed in imagery comparing him to Indra.
Rāma’s kṣātra-tejas (royal valor and presence) aligned with restraint—splendor that serves duty and public responsibility.
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