Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 9

एकाशीति तमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तथा तस्मिन्विलपति वसिष्ठो राजधर्मवित्।सभामिक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य प्रविवेश महायशाः।।।।

Transliteration

tathā tasmin vilapati vasiṣṭho rāja-dharma-vit |

sabhām ikṣvāku-nāthasya praviveśa mahāyaśāḥ ||

Translation

While he thus lamented, the illustrious Vasiṣṭha—knower of royal dharma—entered the assembly hall of the Ikṣvāku lord (Daśaratha).

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/अनुरूपता (adverb): 'thus/so'

• tasmin: when/while he (Bharata)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Loc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• vilapati: laments
• vilapati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √lap (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• rāja-dharma-vit: knower of royal law
• rāja-dharma-vit: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja-dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (knower of royal duty); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण to 'vasiṣṭhaḥ'

• sabhām: assembly hall
• sabhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (sg.)

• ikṣvāku-nāthasya: of the Ikṣvāku lord
• ikṣvāku-nāthasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (lord of the Ikṣvākus); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.)

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √viś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• mahāyaśāḥ: illustrious
• mahāyaśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (great-famed); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण to 'vasiṣṭhaḥ'

Context

While Bharata was weeping, illustrious Vasistha, conversant with royal traditions, entered the assembly hall of the lord of the Iksvakus (king Dasaratha).

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Bharata
• Ikṣvāku
• Daśaratha
• sabhā (assembly hall)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma requires learned guidance: in a succession crisis, the king’s preceptor and dharma-expert must steer decisions toward legitimacy and stability.

What is the narrative situation?

As Bharata mourns, Vasiṣṭha arrives at the royal assembly, indicating the move from grief to deliberation on state duty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom in governance: Vasiṣṭha embodies institutional memory and dhārmic counsel necessary for righteous rule.