Valmiki Ramayana 2.91.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 91, Shloka 39

भरद्वाजाश्रमे भरतसैन्यस्य दिव्यात्मिथ्यम् / Divine Hospitality to Bharata’s Army at Bharadvaja’s Hermitage

Setting: Bharadvaja-ashrama (Prayaga region)Places named: PrayagaBharata’s return-journey halt while seeking Rama

Devanagari script

आसनं पूजयामास रामायाभिप्रणम्य च ।

वालव्यजनमादाय न्यषीदत्सचिवासने ॥३९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.91.39

Transliteration

āsanaṃ pūjayāmāsa rāmāyābhipraṇamya ca |

vāla-vyajanam ādāya nyaṣīdat sacivāsane ||39||

Translation

Er verneigte sich in Ehrfurcht vor Rāma und erwies dem Thron Ehre, als gehöre er Ihm; dann nahm er den Yakschwanz-Fächer und setzte sich auf den Sitz eines Ministers.

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Word by Word

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Temporal)

• तत्र: there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)

• मुहूर्तेन: in a moment; instantly
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कालवाचक (within a moment/instantly)
• Role: Karana (करण/Instrument: time-measure)

• नद्यः: rivers
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• पायसकर्दमाः: having rice-pudding as mud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पायस-कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक; पायस + कर्दम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of नद्यः); तत्पुरुषसमास (पायसं कर्दमः यासाम् = having payasa as mud)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• उपातिष्ठन्त: approached; presented themselves
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)

• भरतम्: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• भरद्वाजस्य: of Bharadvaja
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)

• शासनात्: from the command
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक; शास्-धातोः भाव/करणवाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (from/at the command)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)

Sandhi Notes

• तत स्तत्र = ततः + तत्र (विसर्गलोपः/पदविभागः)
• उपातिष्ठन्त = उप + आतिष्ठन्त (उपसर्ग-संयोग)

Context

He bowed in reverence and worshipped the throne (as though Rama were seated there). Taking hold of a fan made of yak's tail he sat in a minister's seat.

The teaching

Honor due station without ego: even an ascetic upholds maryādā by venerating rightful authority while personally choosing humility.

Ethical theme

Ācāra (propriety)

Devotion and practice

Cultivates vinaya and reverence toward dharmic exemplars; practice of honoring guests/teachers with mindful protocol.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Ceremonial, humble, ordered

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Loyalty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma
• throne (āsana/rājāsana)

FAQs

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

Dharma and satya appear as fidelity to rightful kingship: Bharata treats the throne as Rama’s, refusing to appropriate what is not his, even when circumstances could justify it politically.

What is the narrative situation?

In the lavishly arranged royal chamber, Bharata reveres Rama symbolically by honoring the throne and chooses a subordinate seat, signaling his intent not to assume Rama’s place.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and brotherly devotion—Bharata’s inner truth aligns with outward action.