Valmiki Ramayana 2.77.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 2

और्ध्वदैहिकक्रिया-शोकविलापः

Obsequies for Daśaratha and the Brothers’ Lament

Setting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ रत्नं धनमन्नं च पुष्कलम् ।

वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.77.2

Transliteration

brāhmaṇebhyo dadau ratnaṃ dhanam annaṃ ca puṣkalam |

vāsāṃsi ca mahārhāṇi ratnāni vividhāni ca ||2||

Translation

أثناء شعائر الشرادّها (śrāddha)، قدّم بهاراتا للبراهمة جواهر ثمينة، ومالًا، وحبوبًا وطعامًا وافرًا، وملابس بالغة النفاسة، وأحجارًا كريمة شتّى الأنواع.

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Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to the brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• ददौ: gave
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• रत्नम्: a jewel/precious stone
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• धनम्: wealth
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अन्नम्: food/grain
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• पुष्कलम्: abundant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying) रत्नम्/धनम्/अन्नम् (collectively)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वासांसि: garments
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• महार्हाणि: very precious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('highly valuable'); द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying) वासांसि
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• रत्नानि: gems
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• विविधानि: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying) रत्नानि
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

Sandhi Notes

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यो = ब्राह्मणेभ्यः (o/yo orthography)
• धनमन्नं = धनम् + अन्नम्

Context

During the shraddha ceremony (obsequies) Bharata bestowed on brahmins precious stones, wealth, large quantities of rice, highly valuable garments and various gems.

The teaching

Even amid personal grief, pitṛ-dharma is upheld through śrāddha and generous dāna, sustaining social and spiritual order.

Ethical theme

Dāna-dharma / pitṛ-yajña

For your practice

Encourages daily practice of giving and remembrance of ancestors; transforms grief into dharmic action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Ritual-grief, reverent, austere

Themes

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Rājadharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Brahmins
• Śrāddha (obsequial rite)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as śrāddha and dāna—honoring the departed through prescribed rites and supporting brahmins with generous gifts.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s death, Bharata performs the obsequial ceremonies and distributes ritual gifts as part of the funerary observances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s dutifulness and generosity—he fulfills ancestral obligations despite personal grief.