Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 18

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

स राजकुलमासाद्य मेघसङ्घोपमै श्शुभैः।।2.17.17।।प्रासादशृङ्गैर्विविधैःकैलास शिखरोपमैः। आवारयद्भिर्गगनं विमानैरिव पाण्डुरैः।।2.17.18।।वर्धमानगृहैश्चापि रत्नजालपरिष्कृतैः। तत्पृथिव्यां गृहवरं महेन्द्रसदनोपमम्।।2.17.19।।राजपुत्रः पितुर्वेश्म प्रविवेश श्रिया ज्वलन्।

Transliteration

sa rājakulam āsādya megha-saṅghopamaiḥ śubhaiḥ || (2.17.17) prāsāda-śṛṅgair vividhaiḥ kailāsa-śikharopamaiḥ | āvārayadbhir gaganaṃ vimānair iva pāṇḍuraiḥ || (2.17.18) vardhamāna-gṛhaiś cāpi ratna-jāla-pariṣkṛtaiḥ | tat pṛthivyāṃ gṛha-varaṃ mahendra-sadanopamam || (2.17.19) rāja-putraḥ pitur veśma praviveśa śriyā jvalan ||

Translation

罗摩抵达王家宫苑：诸殿楼阁洁白如云，峰峦如迦罗娑山之巅；宝网庄严的厅堂，宛若白色天车遮蔽长空。那地上的胜宫，仿佛摩诃因陀罗之居；王子光辉炽盛，步入父王的宫殿。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

• kakṣyāḥ: courtyards/enclosures
• kakṣyāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (कक्ष्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.)

• dhanvibhiḥ: by bowmen
• dhanvibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanvin (धन्विन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• guptāḥ: guarded
• guptāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gup (गुप्-धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.), kakṣyāḥ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tisraḥ: three
• tisraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (त्रि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (Acc. pl.)

• atikramya: having crossed
• atikramya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-kram (अति+क्रम्-धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (gerund) = 'having crossed'

• vājibhiḥ: on horses / with horses
• vājibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vājin (वाजिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• padātiḥ: (as) a foot-soldier; on foot
• padātiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padāti (पदाति-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.), कर्तृ-विशेषण (as 'on foot')

• apare: remaining; other
• apare: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (अपर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन (Acc. du.), kakṣye इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• kakṣye: two courtyards
• kakṣye: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (कक्ष्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन (Acc. du.)

• dve: two
• dve: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (द्वि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचन (Acc. du.)

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम्-धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• narottamaḥ: best of men
• narottamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (नर) + uttama (उत्तम)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः नरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg.)

Context

That prince (Rama) arrived at the excellent palace of the king, which looked like the abode of Indra on earth, blazing with splendour. The various towers of the palace touching the sky resembled clusters of white clouds, like auspicious peaks of Kailasa, and like white aerial chariots decorated with gems.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Kailāsa
• royal palace (rājakula)

FAQs

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

As a composite citation, it primarily supplies narrative setting; dharma is implicit in portraying the palace as the ordered seat of kingship where righteous decisions are to be enacted.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated/combined presentation of the palace-description passage while Rama enters the royal residence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a direct ethical maxim; it supports the portrayal of Rama’s rightful place within the royal dharmic order.