Shloka 2.81.4

एकाशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Grief, Courtly Summons, and the Assembly Hall

Devanagari script

ततः प्रबुद्धो भरतस्तं घोषं सन्निवर्त्य च।नाहं राजेति चाप्युक्त्वा शत्रुघ्नमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ prabuddho bharatas taṃ ghoṣaṃ sannivartya ca |

nāhaṃ rājeti cāpy uktvā śatrughnam idam abravīt ||

Translation

Then Bharata awoke, had that clamor stopped, and declaring, “I am not the king,” spoke these words to Śatrughna.

Context

Then Bharata waking up, exclaimed, I am not the king, ordered the pipers to stop and said to Satrughna:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Śatrughna

FAQs

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

Satya and rājadharma: Bharata refuses an unrighteous claim to kingship and insists on truthfully recognizing that the throne is not rightfully his under the circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata wakes amid palace commotion and immediately rejects being treated as king, ordering the celebratory/official noise to stop.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity: Bharata’s immediate repudiation of kingship shows moral clarity and resistance to power gained through adharma.