Shloka 14

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहु स्सबाष्पः कैकयीसुतः।रामस्य शिरसा पादौ जग्राह भरत: पुन:।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ sabāṣpaḥ kaikayīsutaḥ | rāmasya śirasā pādau jagrāha bharataḥ punaḥ ||

Translation

So sprechend ergriff Bharata, der Mächtigarmige—Kaikeyīs Sohn, von Tränen überwältigt—erneut Rāmas Füße und neigte sein Haupt.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having said’

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहि—‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य सः’

• सबाष्पः: tearful
• सबाष्पः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बाष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘with tears’

• कैकयीसुतः: Kaikeyi's son (Bharata)
• कैकयीसुतः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकयी + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष—‘कैकय्याः सुतः’

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: करण (Instrument/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• पादौ: (two) feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual), पुंलिङ्ग

• जग्राह: seized, grasped
• जग्राह: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: according to rite
• विधिवत्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (according to rule/rite)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (again)

Context

Having said thus, the mighty-armed Bharata, in accordance with tradition, grasped with tearful eyes the feet of Rama again with his head.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Reverence and self-effacement: bodily gestures (touching the feet) embody dharmic respect toward the righteous elder brother and rightful heir.

What is the narrative situation?

After pleading, Bharata intensifies his request through a traditional act of supplication at Rama’s feet.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s devotion and sincerity, shown through tears and repeated prostration.