Valmiki Ramayana 2.72.43 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 43

भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च

Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतस्त्रस्तो भ्रातुश्चारित्रशङ्कया।स्वस्य वंशस्य महात्म्यात्प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे।।2.72.43।।

Transliteration

tac chrutvā bharatas trasto bhrātuś cāritraśaṅkayā | svasya vaṃśasya mahātmyāt praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame || 2.72.43 ||

Translation

Al oírlo, Bharata se turbó, temiendo por la conducta de su hermano; y, recordando la noble grandeza de su linaje, comenzó a preguntar con mayor empeño.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (statement)
• तत्: कर्म (object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to the statement)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having heard’

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रस्तः: alarmed
• त्रस्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भ्रातुः: of (his) brother
• भ्रातुः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• चारित्रशङ्कया: from suspicion about conduct
• चारित्रशङ्कया: हेतु (cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारित्र + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः चारित्रस्य शङ्कया (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); हेतौ तृतीया

• स्वस्य: of his own
• स्वस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; reflexive pronoun

• वंशस्य: dynasty's
• वंशस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्म्यात्: due to greatness
• महात्म्यात्: हेतु/अपादान (cause/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु-अर्थ (from/due to)

• प्रष्टुम्: to ask
• प्रष्टुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शस्/पृच्छ् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; ‘to ask/inquire’

• समुपचक्रमे: began (again)
• समुपचक्रमे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘set about/began’

Context

Conscious of the glory of his race, Bharata continued to enquire if there was any unrighteous conduct on the part of his brother.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma
• Ikṣvāku lineage (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is treated as a family and royal trust: Bharata feels responsible to ensure no stain of adharma has arisen within the dynasty.

What is the narrative situation?

After learning of Rāma’s departure, Bharata anxiously asks whether any wrongdoing might have occurred.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s moral vigilance and reverence for lineage-duty (vaṃśa-dharma), expressed through careful questioning.