Valmiki Ramayana 2.37.31 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 31

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

यद्यपि त्वं क्षितितलाद्गगनं चोत्पतिष्यसि।पितृर्वंशचरित्रज्ञः सोऽन्यथा न करिष्यति।।2.37.31।।

Transliteration

yadyapi tvaṁ kṣititalād gaganaṁ cotpatiṣyasi | pitṛrvaṁśa-caritrajñaḥ so 'nyathā na kariṣyati || 2.37.31 ||

Translation

Selbst wenn du von der Erde bis in den Himmel aufspringen könntest, wird Bharata—der Kenner von Brauch und Wandel der väterlichen Linie—nicht anders handeln.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Condition marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (if)

• api: even if
• api: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (even/also)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• kṣiti-talāt: from the earth's surface
• kṣiti-talāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti-tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative, 5th), Ekavacana; samāsa: kṣiti (earth) + tala (surface)

• gaganam: to the sky
• gaganam: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gagana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and)

• utpatiṣyasi: will fly up
• utpatiṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut + pat (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• pitṛ-vaṃśa-caritra-jñaḥ: knower of his father's dynastic tradition
• pitṛ-vaṃśa-caritra-jñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of saḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + caritra (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; samāsa: pitṛ-vaṃśa (father's lineage) + caritra (conduct/tradition) + jña (knower)

• saḥ: he (Bharata)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Prakāra (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (otherwise)

• na: not
• na: Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• kariṣyati: will do
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

Context

O Kaikeyi! remove those bark robes and bestow on your daughter-in-law precious ornaments. She was not ordained to wear the bark. Vaisishta, saying so, prevented Sita from wearing that garment.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Faith in kuladharma and satya: Bharata’s righteousness is grounded in ancestral standards of conduct, making him unwilling to pursue an unrighteous gain.

What is the narrative situation?

An elder warns Kaikeyī that her plan will fail because Bharata will refuse to act against the dynasty’s dharmic tradition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s integrity—loyalty to dharma over personal advantage.