Valmiki Ramayana 2.69.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 3

भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम् · Bharata’s Ominous Dream

Setting: Ayodhyā (implied royal assembly)Places named: sabhā (assembly hall)

Devanagari script

तप्यमानं समाज्ञाय वयस्याः प्रियवादिनः ।

आयासं हि विनेष्यन्त स्सभायां चक्रिरे कथाः ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.69.3

Transliteration

tapyamānaṃ samājñāya vayasyāḥ priyavādinaḥ |

āyāsaṃ hi vineṣyantas sabhāyāṃ cakrire kathāḥ ||3||

Translation

Al advertirlo consumido por la pena, sus compañeros—siempre de palabra dulce—entablaron diversas conversaciones en la asamblea, con el propósito de disipar su aflicción.

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Word by Word

• tapyamānam: (him) being distressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle passive/शानच्-मान), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of samājñāya)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• samājñāya: having noticed
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having understood/observed)
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकालः)

• vayasyāḥ: companions/peers
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• priyavādinaḥ: speaking pleasing words
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारयवत्: 'priyaṃ vadanti'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (vayasyāḥ)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• āyāsam: distress/fatigue
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of vineṣyantaḥ)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• hi: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चय (particle: indeed/for)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• vineṣyantaḥ: intending to remove
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-nī (धातु) [future participle/शतृ?]
• Form: भविष्यत्कृदन्त (intended action; 'about to remove'/इच्छार्थक), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (vayasyāḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• sabhāyām: in the assembly
• Type: Noun
• Root: sabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरणे
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)

• cakrire: made/did
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• kathāḥ: talks/stories
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of cakrire: 'made talks')
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• (पाठे) विनेष्यन्तः सभायां = ...
• 'ssabhāyāṃ' इति द्वित्वं सन्धिजन्यं (स् + सभायाम्)

Context

Observing him grief-stricken his peers who always spoke pleasant words, engaged him in a variety of ways in the assembly in order to divert him.

The teaching

Compassionate companionship and gentle speech are proper responses to another’s grief, even before counsel can be received.

Ethical theme

Sadācāra (right conduct), mitra-dharma

For your practice

Practice of vāg-śuddhi (gentle speech) and karuṇā as daily discipline; offering presence to the grieving without forcing cheer.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Consoling, heavy-hearted, courtly

Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Friendship
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• assembly (sabhā)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as compassion and responsible companionship: friends respond to another’s suffering by trying to relieve it through supportive presence and speech.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is seen distressed; his companions in the royal assembly attempt to distract and comfort him through conversation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and considerate friendship—speaking gently and acting to reduce another’s mental burden.