Shloka 2.117.11

अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः (Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel)

Devanagari script

दश वर्षाण्यनावृष्ट्या दग्धे लोके निरन्तरम्।।2.117.9।।यया मूलफले सृष्टे जाह्नवी च प्रवर्तिता।उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता नियमैश्चाप्यलङ्कृता।।2.117.10।।दश वर्षसहास्राणि यया तप्तं महत् तपः।अनसूया व्रतै स्स्नाता प्रत्यूहाश्च निवर्तिताः।।2.117.11।।देवकार्यनिमित्तं च यया सन्त्वरमाणया।दशरात्रं कृता रात्रि स्सेयं मातेव तेऽनघ।।2.117.12।।

Transliteration

iha me bharato dṛṣṭo mātaraś ca sanāgarāḥ |

sā ca me smṛtir anveti tān nityam anuśocataḥ ||

Translation

Here I saw Bharata, and my mothers too, along with the citizens. And as I grieve for them constantly, that very memory keeps pursuing me.

Context

O blameless one (Rama), once this world was consecutively ravaged by drought for ten years. It was the virtuous Anasuya who created roots and fruits and caused Ganga to flow. She was engaged in severe mortifications and selfimposed religious observances. She practised severe asceticism for ten thousand years bathed in her vows. Solicited on behalf of the gods, she removed all impediments and converted ten nights into one. She is like a your mother to you.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• mātaraḥ (Rāma’s mothers)
• nāgarāḥ (citizens of Ayodhyā)

FAQs

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

Even while upholding dharma through exile, Rāma does not suppress human feeling; he acknowledges grief and responsibility toward family and citizens. Dharma here includes compassion and emotional truthfulness (satya) rather than cold detachment.

What is the narrative situation?

During forest life, Rāma recalls the painful meeting with Bharata and the mothers (and the people), and the remembrance continues to trouble him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s empathy and dutiful concern: he remains inwardly connected to the welfare and sorrow of those bound to him, even when physically separated.