Valmiki Ramayana 2.77.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 9
और्ध्वदैहिकक्रिया-शोकविलापः
Obsequies for Daśaratha and the Brothers’ Lament
Setting: Ayodhyā funeral/cremation vicinity
स तु दृष्ट्वा रुदन् दीनः पपात धरणीतले ॥९॥
उत्थाप्यमानश्शक्रस्य यन्त्रध्वज इव च्युतः ।
sa tu dṛṣṭvā rudan dīnaḥ papāta dharaṇītale ||9||
utthāpyamānaḥ śakrasya yantradhvaja iva cyutaḥ |
देख के वो रोया और ज़मीन पर गिर गया। जैसे किसी मंदिर का झंडा गिर रहा हो, वैसे ही वो भी गिर गया।
Sandhi Notes
- स तु → सः तु (visarga before त)
- उत्थाप्यमानश्शक्रस्य → उत्थाप्यमानः शक्रस्य (visarga + श)
- धरणीतले (धरणी + तल, तत्पुरुष समास)
- यन्त्रध्वजः (यन्त्र + ध्वज, तत्पुरुष समास)
On seeing the cremation ground desolate Bharata collapsed sobbing on the ground like a fastened flag staff of Indra, which fell as it was being raised.
The teaching
Grief can unmake even the ‘upright pillar’ of resolve; community support becomes necessary to restore dharmic agency.
- Ethical theme
- Manasika-duḥkha and resilience
For your practice
Practice of steadiness (dhṛti) and seeking support (satsaṅga/sevā) when overwhelmed; grounding attention like ‘earth-support’.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Collapsed, unsteady, heartbroken
Themes
- Śoka (grief)
- Itihasa
- Anitya (impermanence)
- Dharma (duty under suffering)
Even the ‘raised’ pillar of ego/role (king/son) collapses when struck by grief—pointing to the need for inner steadiness rooted in the Self.
Imagery of ‘falling’ from a support recalls the need for an unshakable ādhāra (Brahman) rather than contingent props.
- Bharata and Dasharatha
- Son collapsing in grief at father’s funeral site (overwhelmed-sorrow)
- Bharata and Indra
- Comparison to Indra’s banner-staff; fallen sovereignty (tragic-analogy)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.77.8 (seeing the cremation patch); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.78.1 (Śatrughna addresses Bharata afterward)
Vedic/Itihāsa use of Indra as sovereignty symbol; dhvaja imagery in royal and ritual contexts
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s repeated fainting/collapse motifs in grief scenes (near 2.77-2.78)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Grieving/narrative
Quickened tremor on "papāta" then long nyāsa; emphasize simile with slightly lifted pitch on "śakrasya"
FAQs
Dharma is shown indirectly: even strong supports can ‘fall’ under unbearable sorrow, yet the narrative prepares for the need to rise again and act rightly.
Bharata, overwhelmed at the cremation ground, collapses to the earth; the poet uses a vivid simile of Indra’s banner-staff.
Emotional sincerity and depth of love—Bharata’s grief is not performative but physically overpowering.
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