Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 20

भरतस्य कैकेय्याः प्रति धिक्कारः

Bharata’s Rebuke of Kaikeyi and Affirmation of Ikshvaku Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

अस्मिन्कुले हि पूर्वेषां ज्येष्ठो राज्येऽभिषिच्यते।अपरे भ्रातरस्तस्मिन्प्रवर्तन्ते समाहिताः।।।।

Transliteration

asmin kule hi pūrveṣāṃ jyeṣṭho rājye 'bhiṣicyate |

apare bhrātaras tasmin pravartante samāhitāḥ ||

Translation

Dalam wangsa ini, menurut adat leluhur, yang sulunglah yang ditahbiskan memegang kerajaan; sedangkan saudara-saudara lainnya tetap tertib, bersatu hati, dan setia menjalankan kewajiban di bawahnya.

Word by Word

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Saptamī (7th/loc.), Ekavacana; agrees with kule

• kule: in the lineage
• kule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (कुल, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta

• pūrveṣām: of the forefathers
• pūrveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (पूर्व)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• jyeṣṭhaḥ: the eldest
• jyeṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭha (ज्येष्ठ, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• rājye: in the kingdom
• rājye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; sphere)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (राज्य)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• abhiṣicyate: is consecrated
• abhiṣicyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (अभि-सिच्, धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; passive sense 'is consecrated'

• apare: the others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (अपर, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; 'the others'

• bhrātaraḥ: brothers
• bhrātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to apare)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (भ्रातृ, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• tasmin: in him (the eldest)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; refers to jyeṣṭhaḥ

• pravartante: conduct themselves; proceed
• pravartante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (प्र-वृत्, धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• samāhitāḥ: composed; attentive
• samāhitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (समाधा, धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; predicate/qualifier of apare bhrātaraḥ

Context

In our race only the eldest son is installed in the kingdom and the other brothers behave with utmost respect towards him.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kaikeyī
• Ikṣvāku lineage
• Rāma (implicit as jyeṣṭha)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma is safeguarded through stable succession: the eldest is crowned, while younger brothers uphold unity and serve the rightful heir.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata states the Ikṣvāku norm of consecrating the eldest, countering Kaikeyī’s attempt to invert succession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fraternal loyalty and disciplined restraint in the face of power (bhrātṛ-bhakti, saṃyama).