Valmiki Ramayana 2.79.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 2

भरतस्य राज्यत्यागः तथा रामानयनप्रतिज्ञा

Bharata Rejects Kingship and Vows to Bring Rama Back

Spoken by Citizens of Ayodhya to BharataSetting: AyodhyāPlaces named: Svarga

Devanagari script

गतो दशरथस्स्वर्गं यो नो गुरुतरो गुरुः ।

रामं प्रव्राज्य वै ज्येष्ठं लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.79.2

Transliteration

gato daśarathaḥ svargaṃ yo no gurutaro guruḥ |

rāmaṃ pravrājya vai jyeṣṭhaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābalam ||2||

Translation

إنّ دَشَرَثا—معلّمَنا الأجلَّ وسيّدَنا الأعظمَ توقيرًا—قد مضى إلى السماء، بعدما نفى ابنه الأكبر راما إلى المنفى، ومعه لاكشمانا الجبّار.

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Word by Word

• गतः: gone
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam गत्यर्थे)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate of दशरथः
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विशेषण)

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; subject
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; destination with √gam
• Role: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)

• यः: who
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to दशरथः
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• नः: our/to us
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘of us/our’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• गुरुतरः: greater/superior
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gurutara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक (comparative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; qualifying गुरुḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• गुरुः: preceptor/elder
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate noun
• Role: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विशेष्य)

• रामम्: Rāma
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object of प्रव्राज्य
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• प्रव्राज्य: having exiled
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vraj (धातु; √vraj गत्यर्थे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), causative sense ‘having sent into exile’ (contextual)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वक्रिया)

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)

• ज्येष्ठम्: the eldest
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; qualifying रामम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• लक्ष्मणम्: Lakṣmaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; coordinated object
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)

• महाबलम्: mighty/strong
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महৎ/महā + बल); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; qualifying लक्ष्मणम्
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• दशरथस्स्वर्गम् = दशरथः + स्वर्गम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
• महाबलम् = महा + बलम् (समास)

Context

Dasaratha, who was our most revered master and preceptor, having exiled his eldest son Rama and mighty Lakshmana, ascended heaven.

The teaching

When the upholder of order passes, dharma requires both remembrance and responsible action to prevent adharma from arising.

Duties in tension

• Filial piety and mourning vs immediate need to stabilize the kingdom
• Loyalty to rightful heir (Rāma) vs practical governance after the kings death

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / succession ethics

For your practice

Contemplation on impermanence and duty; encourages vairāgya with responsibility (yukta-vairāgya).

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Bereavement, reverent, heavy-duty

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Grief
• Succession

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Svarga

FAQs

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

It frames a crisis of rajadharma: the king has departed, and the rightful heir has been exiled, creating a moral and political vacuum that must be addressed responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile, the people speak to Bharata, recalling the events that left the kingdom without its natural protector.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for elders and teachers (guru-bhakti) is highlighted through the description of Daśaratha as the most revered guide of the people.