Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 81, Shloka 6

एकाशीति तमः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तस्यैषा धर्मराजस्य धर्ममूला महात्मनः।परिभ्रमति राज्य श्रीर्नौरिवाकर्णिका जले।।।।

Transliteration

tasyaiṣā dharma-rājasya dharma-mūlā mahātmanaḥ |

paribhramati rājya-śrīr naur ivākarṇikā jale ||

Translation

সেই ধর্মনিষ্ঠ মহাত্মা রাজার ধর্মমূল রাজ্যশ্রী এখন জলে কাণ্ডারিহীন নৌকার মতোই দুলে দুলে ঘুরে বেড়াচ্ছে।

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.)

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); demonstrative pronoun

• dharmarājasya: of the righteous king
• dharmarājasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (righteous king); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.)

• dharmamūlā: rooted in righteousness
• dharmamūlā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (rooted in dharma); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण to 'rājyaśrīḥ'

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled one
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचन (sg.); appositional genitive with 'dharmarājasya'

• paribhramati: revolves/wanders
• paribhramati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √bhram (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• rājya-śrīḥ: royal fortune
• rājya-śrīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (royal fortune/splendour of kingdom); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• nauḥ: a boat
• nauḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); उपमान (standard of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमानद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

• akarṇikā: without a helmsman
• akarṇikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + karṇika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); 'without helmsman/oarsman' (contextual) qualifying 'nauḥ'

• jale: in water
• jale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc.), एकवचन (sg.)

Context

This kingdom, rooted in the righteousness of that noble king, is now whirling like aboat in a whirlpool without a helmsman.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is the stabilizing ‘root’ of governance; when the dhārmic ruler is gone and rightful succession is disrupted, prosperity and order become unsteady.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata interprets the kingdom’s condition after Daśaratha’s death as leaderless instability.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Political discernment: Bharata understands that legitimacy and dharma are essential to prevent the state from ‘drifting’ into chaos.