Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 75, Shloka 14

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Sarga 75: Bharata and Kausalya—Reproach, Oaths, and Reconciliation

Devanagari script

अथवा स्वयमेवाहं सुमित्रानुचरा सुखम्।अग्निहोत्रं पुरस्कृत्य प्रस्थास्ये यत्र राघवः।।।।

Transliteration

athavā svayam evāhaṃ sumitrānucarā sukham | agnihotraṃ puraskṛtya prasthāsye yatra rāghavaḥ ||

Translation

Or else I myself will set out gladly, with Sumitrā accompanying me, carrying the sacred household fire before me, to wherever Rāghava (Rāma) is.

Word by Word

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: or else)

• svayam: by myself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मवाचक (by oneself)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• sumitrā-anucarā: accompanied by Sumitra
• sumitrā-anucarā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sumitrā+anucarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (with Sumitra as companion/follower)

• sukham: happily
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• agni-hotram: the sacred fire-rite (agnihotra)
• agni-hotram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni+hotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• puraskṛtya: placing in front
• puraskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras-√kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having placed in front’

• prasthāsye: I shall depart
• prasthāsye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (where)

• rāghavaḥ: Rama (Rāghava)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Or else I, accompanied by Sumitra, shall go happily on my own holding the sacred fire in front to that place where Rama dwells.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Sumitrā
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Agnihotra (sacred fire)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as steadfast loyalty to the righteous person (Rāma) and adherence to sacred duty-symbols (the household fire), even amid personal grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Kausalyā, distressed after Rāma’s exile and suspecting wrongdoing, speaks to Bharata and declares she will go to Rāma herself, even taking the sacred fire along.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s resolve and devotion—her determination to align herself with Rāma’s path of righteousness.