Valmiki Ramayana 2.83.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः · Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

समाहिता वेदविदो ब्राह्मणा वृत्तसम्मताः ।

गोरथैर्भरतं यान्तमनुजग्मु स्सहस्रशः ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.83.16

Transliteration

samāhitā vedavido brāhmaṇā vṛttasammatāḥ |

gorathair bharataṃ yāntam anujagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ ||16||

Translation

Brahmanen—gesammelt im Geist, der Veden kundig und wegen rechtschaffenen Wandels geachtet—folgten Bharata auf seiner Reise zu Tausenden, auf von Ochsen gezogenen Wagen.

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Word by Word

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom/1st), Bahuvacana

• gatvā: having travelled
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव) from √gam; 'having gone/travelled'

• dūram: a long (distance)
• dūram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Extent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; used adverbially with adhvānam

• adhvānam: road/journey
• adhvānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• ratha-yāna-aśva-kuñjaraiḥ: by chariots, vehicles, horses, and elephants
• ratha-yāna-aśva-kuñjaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + yāna (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr/3rd), Bahuvacana; Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) enumerative: 'with chariots, vehicles, horses, and elephants'

• samāseduḥ: reached
• samāseduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect, लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; parasmaipada; 'they reached/approached'

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'then/thereafter'

• gaṅgām: the Ganga
• gaṅgām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana

• śṛṅgī-bera-puram: Śṛṅgīberapura
• śṛṅgī-bera-puram: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅgībera (प्रातिपदिक; place-name) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc/2nd), Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa place-name compound

• prati: towards
• prati: Dik (दिक्/Directional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya preposition (upasarga-like) governing accusative; indicates direction 'towards'

Context

Brahmins learned in the Vedas and renowned for their virtuous conduct followed Bharta in their thousands on bullock carts with composed minds.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as grounded in learning and conduct: the Veda-knowing, virtuous brāhmaṇas support Bharata’s righteous purpose, suggesting that moral authority and social guidance should align with truth and integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes the scale and character of those accompanying Bharata, emphasizing that respected religious and ethical leaders join the journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s credibility as a dharmic agent: the virtuous brāhmaṇas’ support implies confidence in his truthful intention to restore what is right.