Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 4

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः कैकयीपुत्रः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना।प्रगृह्य बलवद्भूयः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ kaikayīputraḥ kākutsthena mahātmanā |

pragṛhya balavad bhūyaḥ prāñjalir vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

Ainsi interpellé par le magnanime Kakutstha (Rāma), le fils de Kaikeyī (Bharata), joignant les mains en geste de vénération et rassemblant toute sa force, prononça ces paroles.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-निपात (quotative)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) > ukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘√वच्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (having been addressed)

• kaikayī-putraḥ: son of Kaikeyī (Bharata)
• kaikayī-putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikayī + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कैकय्याः पुत्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kākutsthena: by Kakutstha (Rama)
• kākutsthena: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mahātmanā: by the great-souled one
• mahātmanā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘काकुत्थेन’ इति विशेषणम्

• pragṛhya: having held/taken
• pragṛhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) ‘प्र-√ग्रह्’ = ‘प्रगृह्य/गृहीत्वा’ (having taken/holding)

• balavat: strongly
• balavat: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: strongly)

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (again, once more)

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्राञ्जलि’ = ‘प्रगृहीताञ्जलिः’ (with joined palms)

• vākyam: words, statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfect-like past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Thus enquired by the magnanimous Rama, Bharata, joining his palms tightly, replied:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Respectful speech and humility are part of dharma; even amid crisis, Bharata approaches Rama with reverence and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rama’s question/statement, the narration describes Bharata’s composed, reverent posture as he begins to reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and self-control—Bharata steadies himself and speaks with folded hands.