Shloka 42

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

वीरैरध्युषितां पूर्वमस्माकं तात पूर्वकैः।सत्यनामां दृढ द्वारां हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलाम्।।2.100.40।।ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यै स्स्वकर्मनिरतैस्सदा।जितेन्द्रियैर्महोत्साहैर्वृतामार्यै स्सहस्रशः।।2.100.41।।प्रासादैर्विविधाकारैर्वृतां वैद्यजनाकुलाम्।कच्चित्सुमुदितां स्फीतामयोध्यां परिरक्षसि।।2.100.42।।

Transliteration

vīrair adhyuṣitāṃ pūrvam asmākaṃ tāta pūrvakaiḥ |

satyanāmāṃ dṛḍha-dvārāṃ hasty-aśva-ratha-saṅkulām ||

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyaiḥ vaiśyaiḥ sva-karma-nirataiḥ sadā |

jitendriyaiḥ mahotsāhaiḥ vṛtām āryaiḥ sahasraśaḥ ||

prāsādaiḥ vividha-ākāraiḥ vṛtāṃ vaidyajana-ākulām |

kaccit sumuditāṃ sphītām ayodhyāṃ parirakṣasi ||

Translation

പ്രിയ സഹോദരാ, നമ്മുടെ പൂർവ്വിക വീരന്മാർ മുമ്പ് വസിക്കുകയും കാത്തുസൂക്ഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്ത, നാമംപോലെ സത്യസ്വരൂപിണിയായ, ദൃഢദ്വാരങ്ങളുള്ള, ആന-കുതിര-രഥങ്ങളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞ; ബ്രാഹ്മണ-ക്ഷത്രിയ-വൈശ്യർ സ്വധർമ്മത്തിൽ സദാ നിരതരായി, ജിതേന്ദ്രിയരും മഹോത്സാഹികളും ആയ ആര്യർ ആയിരങ്ങളായി ചുറ്റിനിൽക്കുന്ന; വിവിധാകാര പ്രാസാദങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടും വൈദ്യജന-വിദ്വാൻജനങ്ങളാൽ സമൃദ്ധവുമായ—ആ സന്തുഷ്ടവും സമ്പന്നവുമായ അയോധ്യയെ നീ നന്നായി പരിരക്ഷിക്കുന്നുവോ?

Word by Word

• प्रासादैः: by/with palaces
• प्रासादैः: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; तृतीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; instrumental case; plural)

• विविधाकारैः: of various forms/shapes
• विविधाकारैः: करण (instrument/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; विविध + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; तृतीया-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine; instrumental; plural); विशेषणम् (qualifying प्रासादैः)

• वृताम्: surrounded/encircled
• वृताम्: कर्म (object; described entity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) → वृत (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय; भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोगः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular); कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं विशेषणम् (qualifying अयोध्याम्)

• वैद्यजनाकुलाम्: crowded with learned people/physicians
• वैद्यजनाकुलाम्: कर्म (object; described entity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैद्य-जन-आकुल (प्रातिपदिक; वैद्य + जन + आकुल)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैद्यजनैः आकुला = crowded with learned/physician-like people); विशेषणम् (qualifying अयोध्याम्)

• कच्चित्: I hope/Is it indeed that...?
• कच्चित्: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक (sentence particle; no karaka)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययम्/सम्भावनार्थक-निपातः (interrogative/particle expressing anxious inquiry: 'I hope/Is it the case that...?')

• सुमुदिताम्: very joyful/cheerful
• सुमुदिताम्: कर्म (object; described entity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-मुदित (प्रातिपदिक; सु + मुदित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying अयोध्याम्)

• स्फीताम्: prosperous/abundant
• स्फीताम्: कर्म (object; described entity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying अयोध्याम्)

• अयोध्याम्: Ayodhya
• अयोध्याम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; द्वितीया-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (feminine; accusative; singular)

• परिरक्षसि: you protect/are you protecting
• परिरक्षसि: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रक्ष् (धातु) (परि + रक्ष्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः; मध्यम-पुरुषः; एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (present indicative; 2nd person; singular; parasmaipada)

Context

My dear brother I trust you are protecting the (impregnable) city of Ayodhya worthy of its name, formerly defended by our heroic ancestors, with its sturdy gates, its elephants, horses and chariots, its thousands of venerable, selfcontrolled and highly energetic brahmins, kshatriyas and vaisyas engaged in their respective professions, filled with palaces of various kinds, abounding in learned people and a prosperous city where everything is available in abundance.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Ayodhyā
• brāhmaṇa
• kṣatriya
• vaiśya

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: the ruler’s foremost duty is protection and flourishing of the capital and its people—security, prosperity, and the orderly performance of social duties.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma questions Bharata about the welfare and protection of Ayodhyā, emphasizing civic security, prosperity, and disciplined social life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible leadership and vigilance—Bharata is expected to protect the city and uphold a stable, dharmic social order.