Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114, Shloka 21

अयोध्याप्रवेशः

Bharata Enters Ayodhya and Perceives the City’s Desolation

Devanagari script

भरतस्तु रथस्थ स्सन् श्रीमान्दशरथात्मजः। वाहयन्तं रथश्रेष्ठं सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.114.21।।

Transliteration

bharatas tu rathasthaḥ san śrīmān daśarathātmajaḥ | vāhayantaṃ rathaśreṣṭhaṃ sārathiṃ vākyam abravīt || 2.114.21 ||

Translation

Then Bharata, the illustrious son of Daśaratha, seated in the chariot, spoke these words to the charioteer who was driving that finest of chariots.

Word by Word

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle/निपात), adversative/emphatic

• ratha-sthaḥ: seated in the chariot
• ratha-sthaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘rathasya sthāḥ’ (locative relation); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying bharataḥ

• san: being
• san: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Concomitant state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; from √as ‘to be’

• śrīmān: illustrious
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying bharataḥ

• daśaratha-ātmajaḥ: son of Daśaratha
• daśaratha-ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘daśarathasya ātmajaḥ’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; apposition to bharataḥ

• vāhayantam: driving (causing to move)
• vāhayantam: Karma (कर्म/Object—describing the addressed person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vah (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ) from √vah (causative sense here ‘to cause to carry/drive’), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; qualifying sārathim

• ratha-śreṣṭham: the best chariot
• ratha-śreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘rathānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ’ used as substantive; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of vāhayantam (what is being driven)

• sārathim: the charioteer
• sārathim: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient—addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; person addressed/target of speech

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसक), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of abravīt

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada; from √brū ‘to say’

Context

Illustrious Bharata, son of Dasaratha, seated in his chariot, addressed the charioteer as he drove the most excellent of chariots saying:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā

FAQs

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

The verse frames responsible inquiry: a dharmic prince does not ignore ominous change; he seeks understanding before action, reflecting disciplined leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration shifts from description of Ayodhya to Bharata beginning to question his charioteer.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s attentiveness and seriousness of purpose—traits of rājadharma (ethical governance).