Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 47

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Devanagari script

स घोषवद्भिश्च मतङ्गाजैर्ययैःपुरस्सरै स्स्वस्तिकसूतमागधैः।महीयमानः प्रवरैश्च वादकैरभिष्टुतो वैश्रवणो यथा ययौ।।।।

Transliteration

sa ghoṣavadbhiś ca mataṅgajair hayaiḥ purassaraiḥ svastikasūtamāgadhaiḥ | mahīyamānaḥ pravaraiś ca vādakair abhiṣṭuto vaiśravaṇo yathā yayau ||

Translation

象鸣马嘶，声势浩荡；前有吟游诗人与颂德者开道，唱诵吉祥祝祷；最上乘的乐师又齐声赞颂。罗摩便如此威仪前行，宛如毗舍罗伐那（俱毗罗）出巡。

Word by Word

• kareṇu-mātaṅga-ratha-aśva-saṃkulam: crowded with female elephants, elephants, chariots and horses
• kareṇu-mātaṅga-ratha-aśva-saṃkulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kareṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + mātaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (करेणवश्च मातङ्गाश्च रथाश्च अश्वाश्च) तैः संकुलम्; महापथम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• mahā-jana-ogha-paripūrṇa-catvaram: whose squares/intersections were filled with crowds
• mahā-jana-ogha-paripūrṇa-catvaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक) + paripūrṇa (कृदन्त; pari-√pṝ + क्त) + catvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (mahājanaughena paripūrṇaṃ catvaram) महापथम् इति विशेषणम्

• prabhūta-ratnam: rich in gems
• prabhūta-ratnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (prabhūtāni ratnāni yasmin)

• bahu-paṇya-sañcayam: having abundant merchandise
• bahu-paṇya-sañcayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + paṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + sañcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (bahūni paṇyāni, teṣāṃ sañcayaḥ) महापथम् इति विशेषणम्

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ruciram: beautiful
• ruciram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; महापथम् इति विशेषणम्

• mahā-patham: the great road
• mahā-patham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (mahān pathaḥ)

Context

Coming to know that Sumantra who is intimate to his father had arrived, Rama, in order to please him, commanded that he be escorted to that very place.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vaishravana (Kubera)
• Suta (bards)
• Magadha (panegyrists)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as collective social order: the kingdom honors rightful leadership through auspicious, disciplined public ritual rather than disorderly celebration.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama moves in a grand, auspicious procession accompanied by elephants, horses, bards, and musicians.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s public legitimacy and dignity—he is received in a manner fitting a ruler whose life is grounded in satya and dharma.