Valmiki Ramayana 2.80.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 20

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः।तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः।।2.80.18।।प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः।पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः।।2.80.19।।विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः।समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः।।2.80.20।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.80.20

Transliteration

visarpadbhir ivākāśe viṭaṅkāgravimānakaiḥ | samucchritair niveśās te babhuḥ śakrapuropamāḥ ||

Translation

ان کے بلند محل اور نوکیلی چھتیں گویا آکاش میں پھیلتی جاتی تھیں؛ وہ رہائش گاہیں نہایت سربلند کھڑی تھیں—شکر (اندرا) کے دیویہ نگر کی مانند۔

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Word by Word

• kūpakārāḥ: well-diggers/well-makers
• kūpakārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūpa-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'कूपान् करोति' / 'कूपस्य कारः'

• sudhākārāḥ: plasterers/whitewashers
• sudhākārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudhā-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सुधायाः काराः'

• vaṃśa-karma-kṛtaḥ: bamboo-workers
• vaṃśa-karma-kṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'वंशकर्म कुर्वन्ति' (bamboo-work doers)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• samarthāḥ: capable
• samarthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ye: who/those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• draṣṭāraḥ: overseers/supervisors
• draṣṭāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: draṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √dṛś)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• purataḥ: in front/ahead
• purataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) स्थानवाचक

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• pratasthire: set out/departed
• pratasthire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Context

Like a swollen ocean on a full-moon day the multitude of people proceeded joyfully with great speed to the appointed place.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes creating environments that reflect order and harmony; the ‘heavenly city’ simile links good governance with a near-cosmic ideal of well-arranged life.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator praises the completed residences/encampment structures as towering and radiant, likened to Indra’s city.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Excellence (utkṛṣṭatā) in execution—craftsmanship and planning that aim at an ideal standard.