Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 6

भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival

Chitrakuta Encampment

Devanagari script

भ्रात्रूणां संग्रहार्थं च सुखार्थं चापि लक्ष्मण।राज्यमप्यहमिच्छामि सत्येनाऽयुधमालभे।।।।

Transliteration

bhrātrūṇāṃ saṅgrahārthaṃ ca sukhārthaṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa |

rājyam api aham icchāmi satyena āyudham ālabhe ||

Translation

Ô Lakṣmaṇa, j’accepterais même la royauté seulement pour garder mes frères unis et heureux ; je le jure en vérité, mon arme en étant témoin.

Word by Word

• भ्रात्रूणाम्: of the brothers
• भ्रात्रूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• संग्रहार्थम्: for keeping (them) united
• संग्रहार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially = for the purpose of unity/holding together

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुखार्थम्: for happiness
• सुखार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially = for the sake of happiness

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative singular

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• इच्छामि: desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 1sg

• सत्येन: by truth, truly
• सत्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; = by truth/truly

• आयुधम्: weapon
• आयुधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• आलभे: I touch/hold (as a vow)
• आलभे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative 1sg; आत्मनेपद; = I take hold/touch (as oath-gesture)

Context

I shall never accept any wealth obtained by destroying kith and kin or friends which is akin to taking food prepared with poison.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• brothers (Bharata, Śatrughna implied)

FAQs

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

Rulership is justified only as a dharmic duty for social and familial harmony, not as personal ambition.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma clarifies that any claim to rule would be solely for preserving brotherly unity, countering suspicion of rivalry with Bharata.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Selflessness—Rāma frames power as responsibility aimed at collective well-being.