Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 35

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

अग्रतश्चास्य सन्नद्धाश्चन्दनागरुभूषिताः।।।।खड्गचापधराश्शूरा जग्मुराशंसवो जनाः।

Transliteration

agrataś cāsya sannaddhāś candanāgarubhūṣitāḥ |

khaḍgacāpadharāś śūrā jagmur āśaṃsavo janāḥ ||

Translation

اس کے آگے آگے بہادر لوگ چلے، زرہ پوش، تلواریں اور کمانیں تھامے ہوئے، بدن پر چندن اور اگرو کی خوشبو لگائے—گویا اس کی آمد کی منادی کرنے والے۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya

• vāditra-śabdāḥ: sounds of instruments
• vāditra-śabdāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = vāditrāṇāṃ śabdāḥ; subject of śuśruvire

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• stuti-śabdāḥ: sounds of praise
• stuti-śabdāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = stuteḥ śabdāḥ; subject of śuśruvire

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• vandinām: of panegyrists
• vandinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; genitive dependent on stuti-śabdāḥ

• siṃha-nādāḥ: lion-roars
• siṃha-nādāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa = siṃhasya nādāḥ; subject of śuśruvire

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• śūrāṇām: of warriors
• śūrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; genitive dependent on siṃha-nādāḥ

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya

• śuśruvire: were heard
• śuśruvire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) perfect; 3rd person, Bahuvacana; ātmanepada; impersonal sense 'were heard'

• pathi: on the road
• pathi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana; locative of place

Context

Then the chief commanders riding the best of the horses and elephants, resembling hills in size, followed Rama in their hundreds and thousands.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• sword (khaḍga)
• bow (cāpa)
• agaru (agarwood)

FAQs

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

Dharma as protective readiness: force is shown as disciplined and ceremonial—meant to uphold order and safeguard the righteous, not to intimidate unjustly.

What is the narrative situation?

A vanguard of armed, ceremonially adorned warriors proceeds ahead of Rāma, acting as heralds.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courage under discipline—valor (śaurya) guided by duty and decorum.