Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 8

भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival

Chitrakuta Encampment

Devanagari script

यद्विना भरतं त्वां च शत्रुघ्नं चापि मानद।भवेन्मम सुखं किञ्चिद्भस्म तत्कुरुतां शिखी।।।।

Transliteration

yad vinā bharataṃ tvāṃ ca śatrughnaṃ cāpi mānada |

bhavet mama sukhaṃ kiñcid bhasma tat kurutāṃ śikhī ||

Translation

O upholder of honor, if any happiness were possible for me without Bharata, without you, and without Śatrughna—may that happiness be burned to ashes by fire.

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here: प्रथमा as subject of भवेत्त् = whatever (happiness)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थक-निपात; 'without' (takes accusative)

• भरतम्: Bharata
• भरतम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (with विना)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (with विना)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• शत्रुघ्नम्: Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नम्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (with विना)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• मानद: O giver of honor
• मानद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 3sg = may be/should be

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (subject complement with यत्)

• किञ्चित्: any, even a little
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here: प्रथमा as qualifier of सुखम् = any/some

• भस्म: ashes
• भस्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here: द्वितीया as object of कुरुताम् (make into ashes)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular referring to 'that (happiness)'

• कुरुताम्: let (them) make
• कुरुताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; Imperative 3rd person dual = let (two) make

• शिखी: fire
• शिखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; = fire

Context

O Lakshmana, I desire this kingdom only for the unity and happiness of my brothers. Iswear on the weapon I hold.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• fire (śikhī)

FAQs

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

True well-being is collective and relational: happiness separated from righteous bonds (especially brotherhood) is rejected as unworthy.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma emphasizes his love for his brothers and denies any motive to enjoy life or power at their expense.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fraternal devotion—Rāma’s joy is inseparable from the welfare of his brothers.