Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 3

चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः

Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing

Devanagari script

ततः प्रचक्रमे वक्तुं वचनं स महामुनिः।भरद्वाजो महातेजा रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ pracakrame vaktuṁ vacanaṁ sa mahāmuniḥ | bharadvājo mahātejā rāmaṁ satyaparākramam ||

Translation

Darauf begann der große Weise Bharadvāja, strahlend an geistiger Kraft, zu Rāma zu sprechen, dessen Tapferkeit in der Wahrheit gegründet ist.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अनन्तरार्थक: then)

• pracakrame: began
• pracakrame: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada; 'began/undertook'

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्); purpose 'to speak'

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; karmadhāraya: mahān muniḥ

• bharadvājaḥ: Bharadvaja
• bharadvājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharadvāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to mahāmuniḥ

• mahātejāḥ: of great radiance
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; bahuvrīhi: mahad tejo yasya saḥ (one of great splendor)

• rāmam: to Rama
• rāmam: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; addressee/object of speaking

• satyaparākramam: whose valor is true
• satyaparākramam: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Addressee)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; bahuvrīhi: satyaḥ parākramaḥ yasya (whose valor is true)

Context

Then that great effulgent sage Bharadwaja began to speak to Rama whose strength was truth.

Characters & Entities

• Bharadvaja
• Rama

FAQs

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

Satya as the foundation of strength: Rama’s true power is presented as arising from truthfulness and integrity, not mere force.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration transitions to the sage Bharadvāja beginning his discourse to Rama during the forest episode.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s truth-anchored valor and the rishi’s role as moral guide and counselor.