Valmiki Ramayana 2.99.26: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 99, Shloka 26

चित्रकूटप्राप्तिः

Bharata Reaches Chitrakuta and Beholds Rama

Devanagari script

तं तु कृष्णाजिनधरं चीरवल्कलवाससम्।ददर्श राममासीनमभितः पावकोपमम्।।2.99.26।।सिंहस्कन्धं महाबाहुं पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणम्।पृथिव्यास्सागरान्तायाः भर्तारं धर्मचारिणम्।।2.99.27।।उपविष्टं महाबाहुं ब्रह्माणमिव शाश्वतम्।स्थण्डिले दर्भसंस्तीर्णे सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च।।2.99.28।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.99.26

Transliteration

taṃ tu kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ cīra-valkala-vāsasam |

dadarśa rāmam āsīnam abhitaḥ pāvakopamam || 2.99.26 ||

Translation

Er sah Rāma dort sitzen, in schwarzer Antilopenhaut und in Rindenkleidern; er strahlte machtvoll, dem Feuer gleich.

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Word by Word

• tam: him (that one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/emphasis-contrast (निपात)

• kṛṣṇājinadharam: wearing a black antelope-skin
• kṛṣṇājinadharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa-ajina-dhara (प्रातिपदिक; धृ-धातु से धरा)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): kṛṣṇam ajinam + dharaḥ; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used as adjective to Rāma

• cīravalkalavāsasam: clad in bark-garments (rags and bark-cloth)
• cīravalkalavāsasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīra-valkala-vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra-dvandva (समाहार-द्वन्द्व): cīra + valkala (as materials) qualifying vāsas; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective to Rāma

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• āsīnam: seated
• āsīnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ās (आस्-धातु) + īna (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kridanta; past active participle (क्त/क्तवत्-समर्थ ‘-īna’ usage), Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective to Rāma

• abhitaḥ: near/around (him)
• abhitaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhitaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘around/near’

• pāvakopamam: resembling fire
• pāvakopamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāvaka-upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: pāvakasya upamaḥ; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective to Rāma

Context

He saw Rama, lord of the ocean-bound earth, seated like blazing fire, clad in antelope skin and garment of bark, with long arms and shoulders like a lion and eyes like white lotuses. The mighty-armed warrior seemed like Brahma, the creator and the eternal, protector of righteousness. Accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana Rama sat on the bare ground strewn with darbha grass.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• bark garments (valkala)
• fire (pāvaka)

FAQs

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

Dharma is inner brilliance independent of status: Rama’s radiance remains undiminished though he wears ascetic clothing, showing that righteousness is not tied to royal luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata visually recognizes Rama in exile attire and perceives his spiritual-heroic presence through the fire simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s tejas (moral-spiritual splendor) and unwavering composure in hardship.