Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 6

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

ददर्श तं राजपथं दिवि देवपथं यथा।दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजैर्धूपैरगरुचन्दनैः।।।।नानामाल्योपगंधैश्च सदाऽभ्यर्चितचत्वरम्।

Transliteration

dadarśa taṃ rājapathaṃ divi devapathaṃ yathā |

dadhyakṣatahavirlājair dhūpair agarucandanaiḥ ||

nānāmālyopagandhaiś ca sadā 'bhyarcitacatvaram ||

Translation

เขาได้เห็นถนนหลวงนั้นดุจทางของเหล่าเทวะบนสวรรค์ ณ สี่แยกทั้งหลายมีการบูชาอยู่เนืองนิตย์ด้วยนมเปรี้ยว ข้าวอักษตะ เครื่องบูชา ข้าวพอง ธูป ไม้กฤษณาและจันทน์ พร้อมพวงมาลัยนานาและสุคนธ์หอม

Word by Word

• पितामहैः: by grandfathers
• पितामहैः: Kartr (कर्ता/Agent of ‘ācaritam’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• आचरितम्: practised/followed
• आचरितम्: Kriya (क्रियापद-सम्बन्ध/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु) → आचरित (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as predicate ‘practised/followed’

• तथा: thus
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = ‘thus/so’

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय

• प्रपितामहैः: by great-grandfathers/ancestors
• प्रपितामहैः: Kartr (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (today)

• उपादाय: having adopted
• उपादाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having taken up/adopted’

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मार्गम्: path/course
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभिषिक्तः: consecrated/anointed
• अभिषिक्तः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-षिच् (धातु) → अभिषिक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate to implied ‘tvam’

• अनुपालय: rule/protect
• अनुपालय: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Rama beheld the highway resembling the pathway of gods in heaven. Here the cross-roads were always worshipped with curd, grains of rice, sacrificial libations, laja or puffed rice, fragrant substances like sandal wood, agaru and garlands of every kind.

Characters & Entities

• royal highway (rājapatha)
• incense (dhūpa)
• agaru
• sandalwood (candana)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverent public worship and auspicious conduct in shared spaces, linking civic life with sacred responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes the sanctified, regularly worshipped crossroads along the route Rāma travels.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for tradition—Ayodhyā’s society maintains continual ritual order, reflecting collective dharmic discipline.