Valmiki Ramayana 2.96.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 4

चित्रकूटे सैन्यधूलिशब्ददर्शनम्

Alarm at Chitrakūṭa: Lakṣmaṇa sights the approaching army

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे त्रस्ता श्शब्देन महता ततः।अर्दिता यूथपा मत्ता स्सयूथा दुद्रुवुर्दिशः।।2.96.4।।

Transliteration

etasminn antare trastāḥ śabdena mahatā tataḥ | arditā yūthapā mattāḥ sayūthā dudruvur diśaḥ || 2.96.4 ||

Translation

Trong khi đó, hoảng sợ trước tiếng ồn ào lớn, những con voi đầu đàn dũng mãnh cùng bầy đàn của chúng hoảng loạn bỏ chạy tán loạn khắp các hướng.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी-विभक्ति; विशेषण (of अन्तरे)

• अन्तरे: interval; meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी-विभक्ति

• त्रस्ताः: frightened
• त्रस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; क्त-कृदन्त (past participle) ‘frightened’

• शब्देन: by the sound
• शब्देन: Karana (करण/Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति

• महता: great; loud
• महता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया-विभक्ति; विशेषण (of शब्देन)

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (from there/then)

• अर्दिताः: agitated
• अर्दिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; क्त-कृदन्त ‘disturbed, agitated’

• यूथपाः: leaders of herds
• यूथपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति

• मत्ताः: maddened
• मत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; क्त-कृदन्त ‘intoxicated, rutting’

• सयूथाः: with their herds
• सयूथाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्गसदृश) + यूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुव्रीहि (सह यूथैः/with their herds)

• दुद्रुवुः: ran away; fled
• दुद्रुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• दिशः: to the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म/Object; direction of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति

Context

Let the wild beasts drag away the elephants, horses and men to be killed by me with their hearts transfixed with my arrows.

Characters & Entities

• forest (implicit)

FAQs

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

The verse sets the stage for responsible action: a disturbance in the forest becomes a cue for vigilance and restraint rather than impulsive violence—an indirect support for dharma through alertness and non-harm.

What is the narrative situation?

A loud commotion arises; elephant-herd leaders panic and scatter, signaling the approach or presence of a large force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Situational prudence (alert observation) is emphasized through the narrative framing that prompts careful inquiry.