Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 9

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

राजा वा राजपुत्रो वा मृगयामटते वने।अन्यद्वा श्वापदं किञ्चित्सौमित्रे ज्ञातुमर्हसि।।2.96.9।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.96.9

Transliteration

rājā vā rāja-putro vā mṛgayām aṭate vane | anyad vā śvā-padaṃ kiñcit saumitre jñātum arhasi || 2.96.9 ||

Translation

“Maaaring isang hari o prinsipe ang gumagala sa gubat sa pangangaso; o kaya’y ibang mabangis na hayop—Saumitra, nararapat mong alamin kung ano iyon.”

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Word by Word

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• राजपुत्रः: a prince
• राजपुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘king’s son/prince’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• मृगयाम्: hunting
• मृगयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; object of aṭate (goes about for)

• अटते: roams
• अटते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अट् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘wanders/roams’

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन; locative

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; used with किञ्चित् as ‘something else’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• श्वापदम्: a wild beast
• श्वापदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वापद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; ‘wild beast/predator’

• किञ्चित्: something
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन; indefinite ‘something’

• सौमित्रे: O Saumitri
• सौमित्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञातुम्: to know
• ज्ञातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to know’

• अर्हसि: you should
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘you ought/are able’

Context

O Lakshmana, the worthy son of Sumitra, fearful and tumultuous clamour like rumbling sound of clouds is heard. What a wonder! Go and see.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitra)
• king (unnamed)
• forest

FAQs

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

Dharma is careful judgment: before reacting to danger, Rama insists on identifying whether the cause is human (hunters/royalty) or animal—promoting non-hasty, truthful assessment (satya in inquiry).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama instructs Lakshmana to investigate the source of the disturbance, considering multiple possibilities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible caution and commitment to factual clarity.