Shloka 30

हेमन्तवर्णनम् तथा भरतधर्मनिष्ठा-चिन्तनम्

Winter Description and Reflection on Bharata’s Devotion

Devanagari script

अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धस्सुकुमारस्सुखोचितः।कथं न्वपररात्रेषु सरयूमवगाहते।।।।

Transliteration

atyantasukhasaṃvṛddhaḥ sukumāraḥ sukhocitaḥ | kathaṃ nv apararātreṣu sarayūm avagāhate ||

Translation

Wie kann Bharata—im höchsten Wohlleben aufgewachsen, zart und an Bequemlichkeit gewöhnt—in den späten Stunden der Nacht, in der vorfrostigen Kälte, zum Bad in die Sarayū hinabsteigen?

Word by Word

• अत्यन्त-सुख-संवृद्धः: brought up in extreme comfort
• अत्यन्त-सुख-संवृद्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + संवृद्ध (कृदन्त, सम्+वृध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—भूतकृदन्त/क्त (PPP) ‘संवृद्ध’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अत्यन्तसुखेन संवृद्धः)

• सुकुमारः: delicate, tender
• सुकुमारः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुखोचितः: accustomed/deserving of comfort
• सुखोचितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखोचित (प्रातिपदिक; सुख + उचित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सुखस्य उचितः)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha/Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• नु: indeed/then
• नु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis)

• अपर-रात्रेषु: in the later nights / in the late hours of night
• अपर-रात्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग ‘रात्रि’; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अपराः रात्रयः)

• सरयूम्: the Sarayu (river)
• सरयूम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरयू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अवगाहते: enters/bathes (takes a dip)
• अवगाहते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + गाह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

How can Bharata who was brought up in luxury, who is delicate, and deserves all comfort, take a dip in river Sarayu (in cold morning) ?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Sarayū

FAQs

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

True dharma is shown by voluntary austerity: Bharata embraces hardship (cold, discipline) not by compulsion but by righteous resolve and loyalty.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa speaks to Rāma about Bharata’s conduct back in Ayodhyā, emphasizing Bharata’s austere life while Rāma is in exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s self-discipline (tapas-like restraint) and devotion to Rāma, expressed through adopting an ascetic routine despite being raised in luxury.