Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80, Shloka 18

मर्गनिर्माणम्

Roadworks and the Royal Route Prepared for Bharata

Devanagari script

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः।तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः।।।।प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः।पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः।।।।विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः।समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः।।।।

Transliteration

bahupāṃsucayāś cāpi parikhāparivāritāḥ | tatrendrakīlapratimāḥ pratolīvaraśobhitāḥ ||

Translation

彼处堆起重重沙丘，四周环以壕堑；华美的城门点缀其间，城垣高耸，宛如因陀罗基拉山。

Word by Word

• जाह्नवीम्: the Jāhnavī (Ganga)
• जाह्नवीम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed, and then
• तु: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• समासाद्य: having reached
• समासाद्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Absolutive/क्त्वा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययकृदन्त)

• विविध-द्रुम-काननाम्: having groves of various trees
• विविध-द्रुम-काननाम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—विविधैः द्रुमैः युक्तं काननं यस्याः (नदी-विशेषण)

• शीतल-अमल-पानीयाम्: with cool, clear water
• शीतल-अमल-पानीयाम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतल (प्रातिपदिक) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + पानीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शीतलं अमलं पानीयं यस्याः

• महा-मीन-समाकुलाम्: teeming with large fish
• महा-मीन-समाकुलाम्: विशेषण (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मीन (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—महामीनैः समाकुला

Context

The lovely royal road constructed in an orderly fashion by eminent craftsmen looked splendid like the clear sky decorated with by the Moon and clusters of stars.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aśītitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the eightieth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

FAQs

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

Protective governance as dharma: building secure, orderly spaces for a public event reflects the ruler’s obligation to safety and stability.

What is the narrative situation?

The designated resting-place/encampment is being prepared with defensive and ceremonial features—moats, embankments, and grand gateways.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and responsibility—planning that balances grandeur with protection.