Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 17

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

सहसा युद्धशौण्डेन हयारोहेण वाहिताम्। निहतां प्रतिसैन्येन वडवामिव पातिताम्।।2.114.17।।

Transliteration

sahasā yuddhaśauṇḍena hayāroheṇa vāhitām | nihatāṃ pratisainyena vaḍavām iva pātitām || 2.114.17 ||

Translation

Mistulang inahong bigla ang isang babaeng kabayo—kahit pinatatakbo nang mariin ng mandirigmang mangangabayo—pinaslang ng kalabang hukbo at ibinagsak sa lupa.

Word by Word

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• युद्धशौण्डेन: by a war-expert
• युद्धशौण्डेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध + शौण्ड (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (युद्धे शौण्डः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/by), एकवचन

• हयारोहेण: by a horse-rider
• हयारोहेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय + आरोह (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (हयस्य आरोहः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• वाहिताम्: driven, carried
• वाहिताम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘driven/carried’

• निहताम्: slain
• निहताम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: उपसर्गपूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘slain’

• प्रतिसैन्येन: by the opposing army
• प्रतिसैन्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (प्रति = विरोधे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/by), एकवचन

• वडवाम्: a mare
• वडवाम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वडवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमा-सूचक)

• पातिताम्: felled, thrown down
• पातिताम्: Upamāna (उपमान) (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘made to fall, felled’

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

The verse underscores how collective life suffers when righteous leadership is removed; dharma protects a realm from ‘being felled’ by adversity, both moral and political.

What is the narrative situation?

A continuing set of metaphors portrays Ayodhya as struck down and powerless after Rama’s exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s protective kingship (rājadharma) is implied by its absence—his removal makes the city appear defeated.