Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 29

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानां कोणसङ्घट्टितः पुनः।।2.71.29।।

किमद्य शब्दो विरतस्सदा दीनगतिः पुरा।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.29

Transliteration

bherī-mṛdaṅga-vīṇānāṃ koṇa-saṅghaṭṭitaḥ punaḥ || 2.71.29 ||

kim adya śabdo virataḥ sadā dīna-gatiḥ purā |

Translation

为何今日声响止息——号角一次又一次的撞击回鸣，与战鼓、手鼓及维那琴之音皆不复闻？为何城中行止尽显凄然，往昔却常是另一番景象？

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Word by Word

• भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानाम्: of drums, mridangas, and vinas
• भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी + मृदङ्ग + वीणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list): ‘भेर्यश्च मृदङ्गाश्च वीणाश्च’; स्त्री/पुं मिश्र, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• कोणसङ्घट्टितः: produced by striking
• कोणसङ्घट्टितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोण + सङ्घट्टित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘कोणैः सङ्घट्टितः’ (struck by sticks/beaters); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शब्दः-विशेषण

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (again)

• किम्: why
• किम्: Hetu/Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• शब्दः: sound
• शब्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विरतः: ceased/stopped
• विरतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√रम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: PPP/क्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शब्दः-विशेषण

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (always)

• दीनगतिः: a sad state
• दीनगतिः: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘दीना गतिः’ (sad course/state); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (वाक्ये भाववाचक)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

Context

Why is it that the sounds of musical instruments like mrudangas and veenas are not heard now? Why is the city filled with melancholy?

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Sumantra
• Bheri (kettledrum)
• Vina

FAQs

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

Communal celebration and music often accompany righteous prosperity and public rites. Their sudden cessation signals moral and emotional crisis, reminding that dharma supports not only law but also cultural vitality.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama remarks that the familiar festive and ceremonial sounds of Ayodhya’s instruments are absent, and the city feels weighed down by sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s concern for the collective: he interprets the absence of public joy as a serious sign affecting the entire kingdom, not merely a personal inconvenience.