Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 20

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

स कक्ष्या धन्विभिर्गुप्तास्तिस्रोऽतिक्रम्य वाजिभिः।।।।पदातिरपरे कक्ष्ये द्वे जगाम नरोत्तमः।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.17.20

Transliteration

sa kakṣyā dhanvibhir guptās tisro 'tikramya vājibhiḥ | padātir apare kakṣye dve jagāma narottamaḥ ||

Translation

พระองค์ทรงม้าข้ามลานชั้นในสามชั้นซึ่งมีเหล่าธนูรักษาการณ์ แล้วพระนโรत्तมะ—บุรุษผู้ประเสริฐ—จึงเสด็จต่อไปยังลานที่เหลืออีกสองชั้นด้วยพระบาท

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कक्ष्याः: courtyards/enclosures
• कक्ष्याः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• धन्विभिः: by bowmen
• धन्विभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• गुप्ताः: guarded/protected
• गुप्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √गुप् (धातु) से क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; कक्ष्याः इति विशेषणम्

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; कक्ष्याः इति विशेषणम्

• अतिक्रम्य: having crossed
• अतिक्रम्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-√क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• वाजिभिः: with horses
• वाजिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• पदातिः: (going) on foot
• पदातिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अपरे: the remaining/other
• अपरे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन; कक्ष्ये इति विशेषणम्

• कक्ष्ये: two courtyards
• कक्ष्ये: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन; कक्ष्ये इति विशेषणम्

• जगाम: went/proceeded
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरोत्तमः: the best of men
• नरोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः नरः)

Context

Rama, the best among men, crossed the first three courtyards which were protected by bowmen on horses and crossed the remaining two on foot.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• horses

FAQs

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

Dharma here is orderly governance: layered security and protocol protect the king’s household; Rama’s compliance shows respect for institutional order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama passes through successive guarded enclosures of the palace complex, changing from mounted travel to walking as he approaches the inner areas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline and propriety: Rama follows courtly procedure without impatience, reflecting respect for rule and hierarchy.