Valmiki Ramayana 2.98.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 98, Shloka 8

चित्रकूटप्रवेशः · Bharata Enters the Forest Toward Chitrakuta

Spoken by BharataSetting: On the route from Ayodhya toward CitrakutaPlaces named: Ayodhya, CitrakutaApproaching the meeting with Rama

Devanagari script

यावन्न चरणौ भ्रातुः पार्थिवव्यञ्जनान्वितौ ।

शिरसा धारयिष्यामि न मे शान्तिर्भविष्यति ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.98.8

Transliteration

yāvan na caraṇau bhrātuḥ pārthivavyañjanānvitau |

śirasā dhārayiṣyāmi na me śāntir bhaviṣyati ||8||

Translation

Kein Friede wird mir zuteil, bis ich auf meinem Haupt die Füße meines Bruders trage, gezeichnet mit den Merkmalen königlicher Würde.

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Word by Word

• yāvat: until
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• caraṇau: (two) feet
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• bhrātuḥ: of (my) brother
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• pārthiva-vyañjana-anvitau: endowed with royal marks
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक) + vyañjana (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; caraṇau इति विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः: pārthiva-vyañjana (royal insignia) + anvita 'endowed with'
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• śirasā: with (my) head
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• dhārayiṣyāmi: I shall bear/hold
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative nuance possible in usage but form here is simple future of √dhṛ (धारयिष्यामि)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• me: to me/of me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• śāntiḥ: peace
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• यावन्न = यावत् न
• पार्थिवव्यञ्जनान्वितौ (समास)
• शान्तिर्भविष्यति = शान्तिः भविष्यति

Context

Peace shall not come to me until I hold on my head the feet of my brother, the insignia of royalty.

The teaching

True authority is recognized through humility; peace arises when ego yields to dharma and rightful order.

Duties in tension

• Political authority temporarily held by Bharata vs. moral authority of Rama as rightful king
• Self-respect/royal pride vs. humility required for restitution

Ethical theme

Kṣamā/prāyaścitta within rāja-dharma

How it resolves

Ritualized submission and acknowledgment of rightful sovereignty

Devotion and practice

Embodies pāda-sevā and praṇipāta as inner disciplines; supports cultivating humility and reconciliation in relationships.

Deity praised

Rama (as elder/ideal king)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Humble surrender, penitential, seeking absolution

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Humility
• Submission to rightful authority
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma as rightful submission: Bharata seeks peace only by honoring Rama’s legitimate status, symbolized by placing Rama’s feet upon his head.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata expresses his intention to prostrate and seek reconciliation, emphasizing that Rama is the true royal authority.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and renunciation of power—Bharata’s gesture rejects self-advancement and affirms dharmic kingship.