Valmiki Ramayana 1.77.20 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 20

सप्तसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Ayodhya Return, Bridal Reception, and Bharata’s Departure

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा दशरथस्यैतद्भरत: कैकयीसुत:।।1.77.20।।अभिवाद्य गुरुं रामं परिष्वज्य च लक्ष्मणम्। गमनायाभिचक्राम शत्रुघ्नसहितस्तदा।।1.77.21।।

Transliteration

śrutvā daśarathasyaitad bharataḥ kaikayīsutaḥ || 1.77.20 ||

abhivādya guruṃ rāmaṃ pariṣvajya ca lakṣmaṇam |

gamanāyābhicakrāma śatrughnasahitas tadā || 1.77.21 ||

Translation

Hearing Daśaratha’s words, Bharata—Kaikeyī’s son—paid obeisance to his father and to Rāma, embraced Lakṣmaṇa, and then set out to depart together with Śatrughna.

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), prior action

• daśarathasya: of Daśaratha
• daśarathasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• etat: this (statement)
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kaikayī-sutaḥ: son of Kaikeyī
• kaikayī-sutaḥ: Karta-apposition (कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikayī (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of Kaikeyī' + 'son'); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• abhivādya: having saluted
• abhivādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhivād (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), prior action

• gurum: the father/elder (Daśaratha)
• gurum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; here 'father/elder'

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• pariṣvajya: having embraced
• pariṣvajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-ṣvaj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), prior action

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• gamanāya: for departure
• gamanāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; purpose dative

• abhicakrāma: set out / started
• abhicakrāma: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-kram (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śatrughna-sahitaḥ: together with Śatrughna
• śatrughna-sahitaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सह-समास/associative: 'with Śatrughna'); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; qualifies Bharata

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

Context

Having heard the words of Dasaratha, Bharata, son of Kaikeyi paid obeisance to his father and Rama, embraced Lakshmana and prepared for the journey with Satrughna.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Bharata
• Kaikeyī
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śatrughna

FAQs

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

Obedience to rightful authority and elders (guru/pitṛ): Bharata responds promptly and respectfully, aligning action with duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata agrees to go with Yudhājit; before leaving he salutes his father and Rāma and embraces Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and fraternal affection—respectful salutations and embraces accompany decisive action.