Valmiki Ramayana 2.102.4-5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 102, Shlokas 4-5

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Setting: ChitrakutaExile period

Devanagari script

तथा हि पतितं रामं जगत्यां जगतीपतिम् ।

कूलघातपरिश्रान्तं प्रसुप्तमिव कुञ्जरम् ॥४॥

भ्रातरस्ते महेष्वासं सर्वतश्शोककर्शितम् ।

रुदन्तस्सह वैदेह्या सिषिचुस्सलिलेन वै ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.102.4-5

Transliteration

tathā hi patitaṃ rāmaṃ jagatyāṃ jagatīpatim |

kūlaghātapariśrāntaṃ prasuptamiva kuñjaram ||4||

bhrātaraste maheṣvāsaṃ sarvataśśokakarśitam |

rudantassaha vaidehyā siṣicussalilena vai ||5||

Translation

Jene Brüder besprengten auf allen Seiten, während Sita klagte, Wasser auf Rama, den großen Bogenschützen und Herrn der Erde, der, von Kummer gequält, auf die Erde gefallen war und dalag wie ein Elefant, der erschöpft war vom wiederholten Schlagen gegen ein Flussufer.

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Word by Word

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: कर्ता (Subject)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: कर्ता (Subject apposition)

• स्वर्गतम्: gone to heaven
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त from गम्)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः: स्वर्गं गतः; पुल्लिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘पितरम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण

• पितरम्: father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: कर्म (Object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)

• पृथिवीपतिम्: lord of the earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पृथिव्याः पतिः; पुल्लिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘पितरम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: क्रिया (Verb)

• भरतम्: to Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: सम्प्रदान (recipient/addressee)

• वाक्यम्: words, statement
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्
• Role: कर्म (Object)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः बहुव्रीहिः: यस्य आत्मा धर्मः; पुल्लिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘रामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• धर्मसंहितम्: in accordance with dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संहित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः: धर्मेण संहितम्/धर्मानुगतम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘वाक्यम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• रामस्स्वर्गतं = रामः + स्वर्गतं
• धर्मसंहितम् = धर्म + संहितम्

Context

Those brothers on all sides, with Sita lamenting, sprinkled water on Rama, the great archer and lord of the earth who, afflicted with grief, had fallen down on the ground, and was lying like an elephant exhausted from repeatedly striking a river bank.

The teaching

True brotherhood transcends all circumstances; grief shared is grief diminished

Ethical theme

Bandhu-dharma

For your practice

Demonstrates the power of fraternal devotion and the natural expression of grief in dharma

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Profound grief, fraternal devotion, collective lamentation

Themes

• Dharma
• Filial Grief
• Pitr Paksha
• Death Rituals
• Brotherly Love
• Human Emotion

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Bharata
• Sita
• Dasharatha

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the profound human dimension of dharma - even the most righteous and powerful beings experience devastating grief. It shows that dharma does not demand suppression of natural emotions; even Rama, the embodiment of dharma, is overcome by sorrow at his father's death.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata has just informed Rama of King Dasharatha's death. Overcome with shock and grief, Rama falls unconscious to the ground. His brothers and Sita rush to revive him by sprinkling water on his face.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse emphasizes Rama's deep filial devotion (pitru bhakti). His extreme reaction to the news of his father's death demonstrates that his adherence to dharma was rooted in genuine love and respect for his parents, not mere duty.