Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 9

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

गोष्ठमध्ये स्थितामार्तामचरन्तीं तृणं नवम्। गोवृषेण परित्यक्तां गवां पक्तिमिवोत्सुकाम्।।2.114.9।।

Transliteration

goṣṭhamadhye sthitām ārtām acarantīṃ tṛṇaṃ navam | govṛṣeṇa parityaktāṃ gavāṃ paktim ivotsukām || 2.114.9 ||

Translation

它如同牛群中央的一列母牛：哀伤不已，不再啃食新草；被公牛遗弃，心怀渴望而惶惶不安。

Word by Word

• गोष्ठ-मध्ये: in the midst of the cowshed/herd
• गोष्ठ-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘गोष्ठस्य मध्ये’

• स्थिताम्: standing
• स्थिताम्: Upamana-anvayi Visheshana (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त/PPP ‘स्थित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आर्ताम्: distressed
• आर्ताम्: Upamana-anvayi Visheshana (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अचरन्तीम्: not grazing
• अचरन्तीम्: Upamana-anvayi Visheshana (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तम्—शतृ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; with negation sense by context: ‘not grazing’

• तृणम्: grass
• तृणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नवम्: fresh/new
• नवम्: Karma-anvayi Visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with ‘तृणम्’

• गो-वृषेण: by the bull
• गो-वृषेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘गवां वृषः’ = bull

• परित्यक्ताम्: forsaken
• परित्यक्ताम्: Upamana-anvayi Visheshana (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त/PPP; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गवाम्: of the cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• पक्तिम्: a row/group
• पक्तिम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्क्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-सूचक

• उत्सुकाम्: longing/eager
• उत्सुकाम्: Upamana-anvayi Visheshana (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

the midst of the herd despairs and no longer grazes the new grass.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the king’s dharma as protector and sustainer: when the rightful guardian is absent, the community becomes anxious and unable to enjoy even available prosperity (like fresh grass).

What is the narrative situation?

Ayodhyā’s people are portrayed as bereft and listless after Rāma’s departure, through the image of cows abandoned by the bull.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective, stabilizing kingship-virtue is implied—his absence produces insecurity and yearning among the people.