Valmiki Ramayana 2.106.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 19

भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः

Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return

Devanagari script

एष हि प्रथमो धर्मः क्षत्रियस्याभिषेचनम्।येन शक्यं महाप्राज्ञ प्रजानां परिपालनम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.106.19

Transliteration

eṣa hi prathamo dharmaḥ kṣatriyasyābhiṣecanam |

yena śakyaṁ mahāprājña prajānāṁ paripālanam ||

Translation

O du Großweise, die erste Dharma-Pflicht eines Kṣatriya ist die königliche Weihe; durch diese Investitur wird der Schutz und die Regierung der Untertanen möglich.

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Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रथमः: first/primary
• प्रथमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; qualifying धर्मः

• धर्मः: duty/dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• क्षत्रियस्य: of a kshatriya
• क्षत्रियस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• अभिषेचनम्: consecration/coronation
• अभिषेचनम्: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (apposition to धर्मः)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक (instrumental singular: ‘by which’)

• शक्यम्: possible
• शक्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (प्रातिपदिक; from शक् धातु)
• Form: शक्-धातुजन्य साध्य/योग्य-वाचक (potential adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative with परिपालनम्

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• महाप्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् + प्राज्ञः), सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• परिपालनम्: governing/protecting
• परिपालनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिपालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Context

O subduer of enemies, you are of such nature that neither sorrow pains you nor pleasure delights you. There are none in this world like you. You are loved by the elders, for you seek their counsel whenever you have doubts.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• kṣatriya
• prajā (subjects)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: for a kṣatriya, accepting legitimate kingship is not personal ambition but a duty enabling protection of the people.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata argues that Rama should be crowned, because only through rightful enthronement can the kingdom be properly governed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s fitness for public responsibility—wisdom directed toward the welfare of the subjects.