Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 6

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

विध्वस्तकवचां रुग्णगजवाजिरथध्वजाम्। हतप्रवीरामापन्नां चमूमिव महाहवे।।2.114.6।।

Transliteration

vidhvastakavacāṃ rugṇagajavājirathadhvajām | hatapravīrām āpannāṃ camūm iva mahāhave || 2.114.6 ||

Translation

وہ ایسی معلوم ہوتی تھی جیسے کسی عظیم جنگ میں لشکر—زرہیں چکناچور، ہاتھی گھوڑے زخمی، رتھ اور جھنڈے ٹوٹے ہوئے، بہادر سورما مارے گئے، اور ساری فوج مصیبت میں پڑی ہو۔

Word by Word

• विध्वस्त-कवचाम्: with shattered armours
• विध्वस्त-कवचाम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विध्वस्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विध्वस्तानि कवचानि यस्याम्’—with armours destroyed/scattered

• रुग्ण-गज-वाजि-रथ-ध्वजाम्: with injured elephants, horses, chariots and banners
• रुग्ण-गज-वाजि-रथ-ध्वजाम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुग्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः) ‘गजाः वाजिनः रथाः ध्वजाश्च’—all injured/broken; qualifies ‘चमूम्’ (army)

• हत-प्रवीराम्: with heroic warriors slain
• हत-प्रवीराम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘हताः प्रवीराः यस्याम्’—whose heroes are slain

• आपन्नाम्: in distress
• आपन्नाम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-पद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘आपन्न’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fallen into distress’

• चमूम्: an army
• चमूम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• महाहवे: in a great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th case), एकवचन; ‘महान् आहवः’—great battle

Context

warriors slain in the great battle (the city appeared desolate).

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is depicted as the true ‘strength’ of a polity: without righteous order and rightful guidance, a city’s morale collapses as if after defeat. The verse teaches that ethical legitimacy sustains communal resilience.

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā is being described as desolate and broken-hearted after Rāma’s exile, compared to a battlefield host ruined by war.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as the moral centre of the kingdom is implied; his absence makes the city appear ‘leaderless’ and defeated.