Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 7

तमसातीरवासः · Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Exile route (Bharata in Ayodhyā implied)Places named: Ayodhyā (implied)Anticipatory reassurance about events in Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

भरतः खलु धर्मात्मा पितरं मातरं च मे ।

धर्मार्थकामसहितैर्वाक्यैर्वाश्वासयिष्यति ॥७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.46.7

Transliteration

bharataḥ khalu dharmātmā pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca me |

dharmārthakāma-sahitair vākyair vāśvāsayiṣyati ||7||

Translation

भरत बिल्कुल सही इंसान है, धरम वाला। वो मेरे पापा और माँ को समझाएगा। उनकी बातें सही होंगी, जो धरम, अर्थ और काम के हिसाब से ठीक लगेगी।

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Word by Word

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• khalu: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphatic/assertive)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)

• dharmātmā: righteous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); bahuvrīhi: dharmaḥ ātmā yasya saḥ (whose nature is dharma)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bharataḥ
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• pitaram: father
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object) of āśvāsayiṣyati

• mātaram: mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object) of āśvāsayiṣyati

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction
• Role: Samuccaya

• me: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular)
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)

• dharma-artha-kāma-sahitaiḥ: with words containing dharma, artha, and kāma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); samāsa: dharma-artha-kāmaiḥ sahitāni (endowed with dharma, artha, kāma)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vākyaiḥ
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• vākyaiḥ: with words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)

• vā: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; alternative/emphatic particle; here metrical filler with sense 'indeed/also'
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)

• āśvāsayiṣyati: will console
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√śvas (धातु) (causative: āśvāsayati)
• Form: Luṭ lakāra (Periphrastic future), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada; causative 'will console'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• dharmārthakāmasahitaiḥ = dharma + artha + kāma + sahitaiḥ
• vākyairvā = vākyaiḥ + vā

Context

Righteous Bharata will indeed console parents with words in conformity with dharma, artha and kama.

The teaching

Consolation is most effective when speech is anchored in dharma while attending to practical needs and human feeling.

Duties in tension

• Bharata’s duty to uphold dharma and family unity
• Need to soothe immediate grief (kāma as emotional well-being)
• State stability and practical welfare (artha) amid succession crisis

Ethical theme

Puruṣārtha-sāmarasya / sad-vāk

How it resolves

Ethical counsel balancing puruṣārthas

For your practice

Models dharmic speech as sādhana: speak truthfully and kindly, integrating principle, practicality, and empathy.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Consoling, righteous, steady

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Family duty
• Rajadharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Dasharatha
• Kausalya (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as wise, balanced counsel: Bharata’s righteousness expresses itself through speech that harmonizes moral duty (dharma), social well-being (artha), and appropriate human feeling (kāma).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama anticipates Bharata’s role in supporting and consoling the grieving parents after Rama’s departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s dharmic character—his capacity to uphold family stability through principled, considerate speech.