Shloka 4

भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः

Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return

Devanagari script

यथा मृत स्तथा जीवन्यथाऽसति तथा सति।यस्यैष बुद्धिलाभ स्स्यात्परितप्येत केन सः।।।।

Transliteration

yathā mṛtaḥ tathā jīvan yathā ’sati tathā sati | yasyaiṣa buddhi-lābhaḥ syāt paritapyeta kena saḥ ||

Translation

Para quien ha alcanzado tal comprensión, vivir y morir son lo mismo; así también el vicio y la virtud son acogidos con ánimo ecuánime. ¿Con qué, pues, podría ser atormentado?

Word by Word

यथाas

मृतःdead (person)

तथाso

जीवन्living (person)

यथाas

असतिin the case of the wicked

तथाso

सतिin the case of the virtuous

यस्यfor whom; whose

एषःthis

बुद्धि-लाभःgain of understanding

स्यात्would be; might occur

परितप्येतwould be distressed

केनby what; why

सःhe

Context

One should accept life and death, vice and virtue equally. How can one be afflicted when he has gained such an intellect?

Characters & Entities

Bharata

Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by wisdom and even-mindedness: when one’s intellect is mature, one is not destabilized by changing conditions and can act rightly without being driven by attachment or aversion.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata highlights Rama’s philosophical steadiness to show why Rama is uniquely fit to bear hardship and to lead according to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s equanimity (samatā) and the ‘buddhi’ that prevents agitation.