Shloka 3

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

नवनागसहस्राणि कल्पितानि यथाविधि।अन्वयुर्भरतं यान्तमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनम्।।2.83.3।।

Transliteration

navanāgasahasrāṇi kalpitāni yathāvidhi |

anvayur bharataṃ yāntam ikṣvākukulanandanam || 2.83.3 ||

Translation

آدابِ رسم کے مطابق نو ہزار ہاتھی باقاعدہ آراستہ کیے گئے، اور جب بھرت روانہ ہوئے—اکھشواکو کُل کے نورِ نظر—تو وہ سب ان کے پیچھے پیچھے چلے۔

Word by Word

• nava: nine
• nava: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), used as compound-member (समासाङ्ग), indeclinable-like in compounds

• nāga: elephant
• nāga: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine stem used as compound-member (समासाङ्ग)

• sahasrāṇi: thousands (nine thousand)
• sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); head of dvigu compound: nava-nāga-sahasrāṇi = 'nine-thousand (of) elephants'

• kalpitāni: arranged, prepared
• kalpitāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kḷp (कॢप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with sahasrāṇi

• yathāvidhi: according to rule, as prescribed
• yathāvidhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound functioning as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• anvayuḥ: followed
• anvayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + i (इ धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāntam: going, proceeding
• yāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yā (या धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies bharatam

• ikṣvāku-kula-nandanam: delight of the Ikshvaku lineage
• ikṣvāku-kula-nandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'delight of the Ikṣvāku family'

Context

As per tradition, nine thousand elephants were arranged to follow Bharata, delight ofthe race of the Ikshvakus as he set out.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• elephants

FAQs

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

Dharma as ordered tradition (yathāvidhi): even in grief and urgency, the kingdom maintains disciplined procedure, reflecting stability and legitimacy in public action.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata travels with a vast royal retinue; the text details the scale and orderly arrangement of the accompanying forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s public responsibility as an Ikṣvāku prince—moving with due order and dignity befitting a guardian of the realm.