Valmiki Ramayana 2.100.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 2

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

कथंचिदभिविज्ञाय विवर्णवदनं कृशम्।भ्रातरं भरतं रामः परिजग्राह बाहुना।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃcid abhivijñāya vivarṇa-vadanaṃ kṛśam | bhrātaraṃ bharataṃ rāmaḥ parijagrāha bāhunā ||

Translation

ಕಷ್ಟದಿಂದ ಗುರುತಿಸಿ—ವರ್ಣ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಮುಖವೂ ಕ್ಷೀಣ ದೇಹವೂಳ್ಳ ಸಹೋದರ ಭರತನನ್ನು—ರಾಮನು ತನ್ನ ಬಾಹುವಿನಿಂದ ಅಪ್ಪಿಕೊಂಡು ಹತ್ತಿರಕ್ಕೆ ಸೆಳೆದನು.

Word by Word

• kathaṃcit: somehow; with difficulty
• kathaṃcit: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathaṃcit (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/कष्टवाचक-अव्यय (with difficulty/somehow)

• abhivijñāya: having recognized
• abhivijñāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु) + abhi- (उपसर्ग) + vi- (उपसर्ग); abhivijñāya (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive): 'having recognized'

• vivarṇa-vadanam: pale-faced
• vivarṇa-vadanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'विवर्णं वदनं यस्य' (pale-faced)

• kṛśam: emaciated
• kṛśam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhrātaram: brother
• bhrātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समानाधिकरण (apposition to bhrātaram)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• parijagrāha: took hold of; embraced
• parijagrāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु) + pari- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bāhunā: with (his) arm
• bāhunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

Context

Rama found it extremely difficult to recognise Bharata with his emaciated body and pallid face. He held him in his arms and lifted him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as compassion and familial responsibility: even amid political crisis, Rāma responds first with humane care for his suffering brother.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata arrives grief-stricken; Rāma sees his physical decline and embraces him, marking reconciliation and shared sorrow before any debate on kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Karunā (compassion) and brotherly affection, showing Rāma’s steadiness in love and duty.