Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 24

ऋष्यशृङ्गानयनम् — Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā

Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 11

Devanagari script

क्रियतां नगरं सर्वं क्षिप्रमेव स्वलङ्कृतम्।धूपितं सिक्तसम्मृष्टं पताकाभिरलङ्कृतम्।।1.11.24।।

Transliteration

kriyatāṁ nagaraṁ sarvaṁ kṣipram eva svalaṅkṛtam |

dhūpitaṁ siktasammṛṣṭaṁ patākābhir alaṅkṛtam ||1.11.24||

Translation

پورے شہر کو فوراً خوب آراستہ کیا جائے؛ لوبان کی خوشبو سے معطر کیا جائے، پانی چھڑک کر اچھی طرح دھو کر صاف کیا جائے، اور جھنڈیوں و پرچموں سے سجایا جائے۔

Word by Word

• kriyatām: let (it) be done
• kriyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive/impersonal sense: 'let it be done'

• nagaram: the city
• nagaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvam: entire
• sarvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); qualifying nagaram

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipram (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

• su-alaṅkṛtam: well-decorated
• su-alaṅkṛtam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + alaṅkṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva with su-: 'well-decorated' qualifying nagaram; alaṅkṛta = past participle (क्त)

• dhūpitam: fumigated/perfumed
• dhūpitam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhūpita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhūp)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त) qualifying nagaram

• sikta-sammṛṣṭam: sprinkled and cleaned
• sikta-sammṛṣṭam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sikta (प्रातिपदिक; √sic) + sammṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; sam-√mṛj)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); itaretara-dvandva used adjectivally: 'sprinkled and cleansed' qualifying nagaram

• patākābhiḥ: with flags/banners
• patākābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• alaṅkṛtam: decorated
• alaṅkṛtam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṅkṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); past participle (क्त) qualifying nagaram

Context

"Let the entire city be well-decorated, perfumed, sprinkled with water and cleaned with flags hoisted."

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā (implied city)
• Daśaratha (implied speaker)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma expressed as satkāra: a ruler must honour worthy guests and sacred visitors through orderly, respectful public arrangements.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha commands that Ayodhyā be quickly cleaned and decorated to receive an honoured arrival (R̥śyaśṛṅga, in the surrounding context).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s diligence and reverence—he ensures prompt, proper hospitality and public auspiciousness.