Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 34

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

विप्रियं न च कर्तव्यं भरतस्य कदाचन।स हि राजा प्रभुश्चैव देशस्य च कुलस्य च।।।।

Transliteration

vipriyaṃ na ca kartavyaṃ bharatasya kadācana |

sa hi rājā prabhuś caiva deśasya ca kulasya ca ||

Translation

Never do anything displeasing to Bharata; for he is now the king and the rightful lord of both the realm and the royal lineage.

Word by Word

• vipriyam: a displeasing act/thing
• vipriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular); used as object-noun meaning 'displeasing thing'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; negation of action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (negative particle/निषेध)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• kartavyam: should be done
• kartavyam: Vidhi (विधि; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + tavya (तव्य प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive/obligative; Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; impersonal passive obligation: 'it should be done'

• bharatasya: of Bharata
• bharatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive relation

• kadācana: at any time/ever
• kadācana: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb/काल)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; pronoun

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle) expressing emphasis/reason (ह्यर्थ)

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to saḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• prabhuḥ: lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (restrictive/emphatic particle/अवधारण)

• deśasya: of the country
• deśasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• kulasya: of the family/dynasty
• kulasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

Context

Kings abandon (even) their own sons if they are harmful and receive capable people even if they are strangers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring legitimate authority and avoiding actions that disrupt governance and family order.

What is the narrative situation?

With Rāma departing, Bharata is treated as the ruling authority; Rāma instructs Sītā to align her conduct accordingly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for rightful rule and restraint in conduct—placing stability and duty above personal emotion.