Valmiki Ramayana 2.99.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 99, Shloka 32

चित्रकूटप्राप्तिः · Bharata Reaches Chitrakuta and Beholds Rama

Devanagari script

वासोभिर्बहुसाहस्रैर्यो महात्मा पुरोचितः ।

मृगाजिने सोऽयमिह प्रवस्ते धर्ममाचरन् ॥३२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.99.32

Transliteration

vāsobhir bahusāhasrair yo mahātmā purocitaḥ |

mṛgājine so ’yam iha pravaste dharmam ācaran ||32||

Translation

Jener großherzige Rāma, der einst an unzählige Gewänder gewöhnt war, trägt nun hier Hirschfelle und übt Dharma.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• vāsobhiḥ: with garments
• vāsobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• bahusāhasraiḥ: by many thousands (of)
• bahusāhasraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu-sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numeral-like compound: bahūni sāhasrāṇi; Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with vāsobhiḥ

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahātmā: great-souled one
• mahātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• ucitaḥ: was accustomed
• ucitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ucita (प्रातिपदिक; वच्/उच्-धातु से ‘उचित’)
• Form: Kridanta; past passive participle (क्त) used as predicate ‘accustomed/appropriate’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mṛgājine: in/with a deer-skin
• mṛgājine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga-ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: mṛgasya ajinam; Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

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

• ayam: this (man)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• pravaste: wears/is clad
• pravaste: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vas (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; sense ‘is clothed/wears’

• dharmam: righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ācaran: practising
• ācaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: Kridanta; present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with saḥ ayam

Context

Such magnanimous Rama, a follower of dharma, accustomed to be attired in thousands of dresses in the past now clad in two deer skins, is practising righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• forest

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as lived practice: Rāma accepts austerity and renounces luxury to keep truth and uphold righteous duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata observes Rāma’s changed attire—royal finery replaced by deer-skins—while Rāma remains committed to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-control and renunciation in service of truth and duty.