Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 1

एकाशीति तमः सर्गः

Bharata’s Grief, Courtly Summons, and the Assembly Hall

Devanagari script

ततो नान्दीमुखीं रात्रिं भरतं सूतमागधाः।तुष्टुवुर्वाग्विशेषज्ञास्स्तवैर्मङ्गलसंहितैः।।।।

Transliteration

tato nāndīmukhīṃ rātriṃ bharataṃ sūtamāgadhāḥ | tuṣṭuvur vāgviśeṣajñāḥ stavair maṅgalasaṃhitaiḥ ||

Translation

于是，在夜将尽的吉祥时分，善于辞章的歌师与颂者以充满瑞相的赞歌颂扬，使婆罗多心生欢悦。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'thereafter/then'

• nāndīmukhīm: auspicious-beginning
• nāndīmukhīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāndīmukhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) to 'rātrim'

• rātrim: night
• rātrim: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• sūta-māgadhāḥ: bards and panegyrists
• sūta-māgadhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + māgadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (Dvandva), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• tuṣṭuvuḥ: praised
• tuṣṭuvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (pl.)

• vāk-viśeṣa-jñāḥ: experts in eloquent speech
• vāk-viśeṣa-jñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha; viśeṣe jñāḥ = 'knowers of special speech'), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (pl.); apposition to 'sūta-māgadhāḥ'

• stavaiḥ: with hymns/praises
• stavaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• maṅgala-saṃhitaiḥ: auspiciously composed
• maṅgala-saṃhitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpurusha; maṅgalena saṃhitāḥ = 'composed/filled with auspiciousness'), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण to 'stavaiḥ'

Context

Thereafter bards and panegyrists adept in conversation with an auspicious startpleased Bharata with eulogy in the last part of the night.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• sūta
• māgadha

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through auspicious, truthful speech used to strengthen social order—words employed to honor rightful authority and encourage steadiness in duty.

What is the narrative situation?

At the end of night, court bards formally praise Bharata as part of the royal routine and ceremonial atmosphere.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for propriety (maryādā) and the disciplined use of speech—praise offered in a culturally sanctioned, auspicious manner.