Valmiki Ramayana 2.90.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 90, Shloka 2

भरद्वाजाश्रमगमनम्

Bharata at Bharadvāja’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

भरद्वाजाश्रमं दृष्ट्वा क्रोशादेव नरर्षभः।बलं सर्वमवस्थाप्य जगाम सह मन्त्रिभिः।।2.90.1।।पद्भ्यामेव हि धर्मज्ञो न्यस्तशस्त्रपरिच्छदः।वसानो वाससी क्षौमे पुरोधाय पुरोधसम्।।2.90.2।।

Transliteration

padbhyām eva hi dharmajño nyasta-śastra-paricchadaḥ |

vasāno vāsasī kṣaume purodhāya purodhasam || 2.90.2 ||

Translation

Car le connaisseur du dharma marcha à pied ; déposant ses armes et les insignes royaux, vêtu d’un simple lin, et plaçant le prêtre de la lignée en tête.

Word by Word

• पद्भ्याम्: on foot; with (his) feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन

• एव: only; indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निपात (for/indeed)

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (धर्मं जानाति)

• न्यस्त-शस्त्र-परिच्छदः: having laid aside weapons and accoutrements
• न्यस्त-शस्त्र-परिच्छदः: Karta (कर्ता, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-स्था/न्यस् (धातु) + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + परिच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP ‘न्यस्त’ (laid aside) + तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वसानः: wearing
• वसानः: Karta (कर्ता, qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणभावे

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (कर्म/Object of wearing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• क्षौमे: of linen/silk (fine cloth)
• क्षौमे: Karma (कर्म, qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with वाससी)

• पुरोधाय: having placed in front
• पुरोधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) from पुरो-धा (to place in front), पूर्वक्रिया

• पुरोधसम्: the family priest (Vasiṣṭha)
• पुरोधसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of placing ahead)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

Rama, destroyer of enemies and enhancer of the delight of his mother Kausalya, has been banished to the forest for a long time along with his wife and brother. That illustrious one has been ordered by his father to live in the forest for fourteen years through the pursuasion of a woman. To enjoy the kingdom without obstacles do you intend to cause any harm to that irreproachable Rama and his brother?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Vasiṣṭha (family priest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as humility and restraint: Bharata approaches a sage not with royal force, but by laying aside weapons and adopting simplicity, showing reverence for spiritual authority over political power.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata nears Bharadvāja’s hermitage; as he proceeds to meet the sage, he symbolically renounces royal display by going on foot and in simple clothing, with Vasiṣṭha placed respectfully in front.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and dama (self-control), shown through abandoning martial insignia and approaching the āśrama in a disciplined, reverential manner.