Valmiki Ramayana 2.104.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 16

भरतस्य प्रार्थना · रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Spoken by Rama to BharataSetting: Chitrakuta (Rama’s forest residence)Places named: Ayodhya (implied by ‘राज्य’)Dialogue after Bharata’s arrival and lament

Devanagari script

कुलीनःसत्त्वसम्पन्नस्तेजस्वी चरितव्रतः ।

राज्यहेतोः कथं पापमाचरेत्त्वद्विधो जनः ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.104.16

Transliteration

kulīnaḥ sattvasampannas tejasvī caritavrataḥ |

rājyhetoḥ kathaṃ pāpam ācaret tvadvidho janaḥ ||16||

Translation

तुम अच्छे घर के हो, अच्छा दिल रखते हो, और पावर में भी स्ट्रॉन्ग हो। तुम व्रत भी निभाते हो। ऐसा आदमी राज के लिए पाप कैसे कर सकता है?

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Word by Word

• कुलीनः: noble-born
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
• Role: विशेषण (of janaḥ/tvadvidhaḥ)

• सत्त्वसम्पन्नः: endowed with virtue/strength
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; सम्पन्न = पद्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष—‘सत्त्वेन सम्पन्नः’
• Role: विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तेजस्वी: splendid, powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
• Role: विशेषण

• चरितव्रतः: one who observes his vows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरित + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष—‘चरितं व्रतं यस्य’ (one whose vows are practiced/observed)
• Role: विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• राज्यहेतोः: for the sake of the kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष—‘राज्यस्य हेतुः’
• Role: हेतु (Cause/purpose)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)
• Role: प्रश्न (Interrogative)

• पापम्: sin, wrongdoing
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: कर्म (Object)

• आचरेत्: would do/commit
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया (Verb)

• त्वद्विधः: like you
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष—‘त्वद्-विधः’ = like you
• Role: विशेषण
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• जनः: a person
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
• Role: कर्ता (Subject)

Sandhi Notes

• सत्त्वसम्पन्नस्तेजस्वी = सत्त्वसम्पन्नः + तेजस्वी
• राज्यहेतोः = राज्य + हेतोः
• पापमाचरेत् = पापम् + आचरेत्
• त्वद्विधो जनः = त्वद्विधः + जनः

Context

How can a man like you, born of a noble race, endowed with energy, powerful and adherent to vows, commit a sin for the sake of a kingdom?

The teaching

True nobility is measured by refusal to commit adharma for power.

Duties in tension

• Artha (political power/kingdom) vs dharma (moral integrity)
• Family loyalty vs public legitimacy

Ethical theme

Rājadharma and personal virtue ethics

How it resolves

Ethical clarification: Bharata’s nature is incompatible with sinful usurpation

For your practice

Supports vairāgya toward status/power; encourages self-inquiry: ‘Would I compromise dharma for gain?’

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Assuring, ethical, steady

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Non-covetousness
• Character Assessment
• Rajadharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• kingdom (rājya)

FAQs

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

Kingship is not worth adharma: Rama asserts that righteousness and integrity stand above political power, and he trusts Bharata’s dharmic nature.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama begins his response, rejecting any suspicion that Bharata seeks the throne through wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s incorruptibility—Rama describes him as vow-keeping and incapable of sin for power.