Valmiki Ramayana 2.73.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 14

भरतस्य कैकेय्याः प्रति धिक्कारः

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

Devanagari script

अहं हि पुरुषव्याघ्रावपश्यन्रामलक्ष्मणौ।केन शक्तिप्रभावेन राज्यं रक्षितुमुत्सहे।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.73.14

Transliteration

ahaṃ hi puruṣa-vyāghrāv apaśyan rāma-lakṣmaṇau | kena śakti-prabhāvena rājyaṃ rakṣitum utsahe || 2.73.14 ||

Translation

ৰাম-লক্ষ্মণ—পুৰুষব্যাঘ্ৰ দুজনক—নেদেখি, কোন শক্তি-প্ৰভাৱৰ বলত মই এই ৰাজ্য ৰক্ষা কৰিবলৈ সাহস কৰিম?

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Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Prathamā (1st/nom.), Ekavacana

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

• puruṣavyāghrau: two tigers among men
• puruṣavyāghrau: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to rāmalakṣmaṇau)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (पुरुष) + vyāghra (व्याघ्र)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: puruṣāṇāṃ vyāghrau), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (1st/nom.), Dvivacana; epithet for Rāma-Lakṣmaṇa

• apaśyan: not seeing; without beholding
• apaśyan: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √paś (पश्, धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-present active participle (परस्मैपदी), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā, Ekavacana; with negated sense 'without seeing' (contextual)

• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana
• rāma-lakṣmaṇau: Karma (कर्म/Object of apaśyan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (राम) + lakṣmaṇa (लक्ष्मण)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व), Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (2nd/acc.), Dvivacana

• kena: by what
• kena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (किम्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Tṛtīyā (3rd/instr.), Ekavacana

• śakti-prabhāvena: by (some) power and might
• śakti-prabhāvena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (शक्ति) + prabhāva (प्रभाव)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: śakteḥ prabhāvaḥ), Puṃliṅga (m.), Tṛtīyā (3rd/instr.), Ekavacana

• rājyam: the kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of rakṣitum)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (राज्य, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (2nd/acc.), Ekavacana

• rakṣitum: to protect
• rakṣitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rakṣ (रक्ष्, धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्), expressing purpose/ability

• utsahe: am able; dare
• utsahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√sah (उत्सह्, धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Ātmanepada, Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Context

When Rama and Lakshmana, the best of men stay away from me, by virtue of what mighty power am I competent to protect this kingdom?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Legitimate rule depends on dharmic capability and rightful support; Bharata refuses to treat kingship as entitlement and measures it against responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata laments that with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa absent, he lacks the strength to safeguard the realm.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and realism in governance—Bharata acknowledges merit and competence rather than clinging to power.