Shloka 15

भरतस्य कैकेय्याः प्रति धिक्कारः

Bharata’s Rebuke of Kaikeyi and Affirmation of Ikshvaku Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

तं हि नित्यं महाराजो बलवन्तं महाबलः।उपाश्रितोऽभूद्धर्मात्मा मेरुर्मेरुवनं यथा।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ hi nityaṃ mahārājo balavantaṃ mahā-balaḥ | upāśrito 'bhūd dharmātmā merur meru-vanaṃ yathā || 2.73.15 ||

Translation

ذلك الملك العظيم، القائم بالدارما، مع أنه قويّ، كان يعتمد دائمًا على راما القويّ، كما يعتمد جبلُ ميرو على الغابة المحيطة بميرو.

Word by Word

• tam: him (Rama)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object of upāśritaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/acc.), Ekavacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (नित्य, प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa) meaning 'always'

• mahārājaḥ: the great king
• mahārājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा) + rāja (राजन्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (महान् राजा), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/nom.), Ekavacana

• balavantam: powerful
• balavantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat (बलवत्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/acc.), Ekavacana; adjective of tam

• mahābalaḥ: mighty
• mahābalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (महा) + bala (बल, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (महद् बलं यस्य), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet of mahārājaḥ

• upāśritaḥ: resorted to; relied on
• upāśritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-√śri (उप-आ-श्रि, धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; with abhūt forms periphrastic past 'used to resort to'

• abhūt: was; used to be
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया; auxiliary)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू, धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (imperfect past), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (धर्म) + ātman (आत्मन्)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet of mahārājaḥ

• meruḥ: Mount Meru
• meruḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (मेरु, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upamāna (standard of comparison)

• meru-vanam: Meru's forest (the forest around Meru)
• meru-vanam: Karma (कर्म; in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (मेरु) + vana (वन)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: meror vanam), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object in comparison

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative particle)

Context

The mighty and righteous maharaja used to rely upon the powerful Rama just as mount Meru depends on the forest surrounding it for its protection.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha (mahārāja, implied)
• Rāma
• Mount Meru

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes recognizing and relying on virtuous strength for the welfare of the kingdom; righteous power supports righteous rule.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata explains how Daśaratha depended on Rāma’s capability, emphasizing the loss created by Rāma’s removal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s protective strength and trustworthiness—so dependable that even a mighty king leaned upon him.