Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 23

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

वारुणीमदगन्धश्च माल्यगन्धश्च मूर्छितः। धूपितागुरुगन्धश्च न प्रवाति समन्ततः।।2.114.23।।

Transliteration

vāruṇīmadagandhaś ca mālyagandhaś ca mūrchitaḥ | dhūpitāgurugandhaś ca na pravāti samantataḥ || 2.114.23 ||

Translation

Giờ đây, khắp nơi không còn gió đưa những hương nồng say từng lan tỏa—mùi rượu vāruṇī, hương vòng hoa, hay mùi trầm agaru thơm ngát như hương khói.

Word by Word

• vāruṇī-mada-gandhaḥ: odor of liquor-intoxication
• vāruṇī-mada-gandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāruṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘vāruṇyāḥ mada-gandhaḥ’ (odor of intoxication from liquor); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; subject (coordinated)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avayava (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• mālya-gandhaḥ: fragrance of garlands
• mālya-gandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘mālyasya gandhaḥ’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

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

• mūrchitaḥ: diffused/pervading
• mūrchitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūrchita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective for the coordinated subjects

• dhūpita-aguru-gandhaḥ: fragrance of incense/aguru
• dhūpita-aguru-gandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpita (प्रातिपदिक) + aguru (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘dhūpitasya aguroḥ gandhaḥ’ (fragrance of fumigated aguru); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

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

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (प्रतिषेध)

• pravāti: blows
• pravāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; with prefix pra-; √vā ‘to blow’

• samantataḥ: on all sides/everywhere
• samantataḥ: Deśa (देश/Place adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (spatial adverb/देश-अव्यय)

Context

The breeze no longer carries the intoxicating odour of spirituous liquor, the pervading fragrance of flower garlands and agaru (incense).

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ayodhyā
• Vāruṇī
• Agaru

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts lawful joy with grief-born restraint: when dharma is violated, society instinctively abandons indulgence and adornment, reflecting a collective conscience.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata lists sensory signs of celebration that are missing in Ayodhya—no festive fragrances carried by the wind.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s discernment: he infers a moral and emotional upheaval from subtle public signs, seeking an honest explanation.