Valmiki Ramayana 2.97.31: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 31

भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival

Chitrakuta Encampment

Devanagari script

सा चित्रकूटे भरतेन सेना धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य विधूय दर्पम् ।

प्रसादनार्थं रघुनन्दनस्य विराजते नीतिमता प्रणीता ॥३१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.97.31

Transliteration

sā citrakūṭe bharatena senā dharmaṃ puraskṛtya vidhūya darpam |

prasādanārthaṃ raghunandanasya virājate nītimatā praṇītā ||31||

Translation

चित्रकूट पर भरत की सेना चमक रही थी। धरम को आगे रख के चल रहे थे। अपनी घमंड छोड़ दिया था। सही रास्ता पकड़ के चल रहे थे। राम को मनाने के लिए आए थे।

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Word by Word

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चित्रकूटे: at Chitrakuta
• चित्रकूटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रकूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थाननाम

• भरतेन: by Bharata
• भरतेन: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सेना: army
• सेना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर्मम्: righteousness/dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of gerund)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरस्कृत्य: having put foremost
• पुरस्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुरस्√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having placed in front/adopted’

• विधूय: having cast off
• विधूय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having shaken off’

• दर्पम्: pride
• दर्पम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रसादनार्थम्: for propitiation
• प्रसादनार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसादन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष (प्रसादनाय अर्थः) = ‘for the purpose of pleasing’

• रघुनन्दनस्य: of Rama (Raghu’s delight)
• रघुनन्दनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रघोः नन्दनः)

• विराजते: shines/appears splendid
• विराजते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नीतिमता: by the moral/politic one
• नीतिमता: Karana (करण/Instrumental agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘भरतेन’ understood)

• प्रणीता: led/brought
• प्रणीता: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण: of ‘सेना’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘led/brought’ (agreeing with ‘सेना’)

Context

The army brought by Bharata, the great moralist, was shining around Chitrakuta mountain following dharma, and casting off all pride, in order to please Rama.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptanavatitamassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the ninetyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Citrakūṭa
• Bharata
• Rāma (Raghunandana)
• army (senā)
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma must lead political action: Bharata’s mission and even his army are framed as instruments of humility and reconciliation, not domination.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes Bharata’s army at Citrakūṭa, emphasizing its peaceful, dharmic intent to approach and please Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s nīti (ethical governance) and humility—he casts off pride and seeks Rāma’s approval.