Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 11

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

भवत्वविधवा भूमि स्समग्रा पतिना त्वया।शशिना विमलेनेव शारदी रजनी यथा।।।।

Transliteration

bhavatv avidhavā bhūmiḥ samagrā patinā tvayā |

śaśinā vimaleneva śāradī rajanī yathā ||2.104.11||

Translation

Que la terre entière ne soit plus veuve en t’ayant pour époux et seigneur, telle une nuit d’automne rendue lumineuse par la lune immaculée.

Word by Word

• भवतु: let it be
• भवतु: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अविधवा: not widowed
• अविधवा: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (negation)

• भूमिः: the earth/land
• भूमिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• समग्रा: entire, whole
• समग्रा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• पतिना: with a lord/husband
• पतिना: करण (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शशिना: by the moon
• शशिना: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• विमलेन: pure, spotless
• विमलेन: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of śaśinā)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• शारदी: autumnal
• शारदी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of rajanī)

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमा
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/प्रकार-अव्यय (as, just as)

Context

Like an autumnal night with the immaculate Moon, let this entire earth cease to be a widow by securing you as her lord.

Characters & Entities

• earth (bhūmi)
• Bharata
• moon (śaśin)

FAQs

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

A king is the earth’s protector; restoring rightful rule is framed as removing disorder and vulnerability—an image of rājadharma as guardianship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma urges Bharata to take up sovereignty, using a simile that equates a kingless earth with widowhood and proper rule with moonlit clarity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s suitability to protect the realm, and Rāma’s prioritizing stability and dharma over personal attachment.