Shloka 2

Devanagari script

शाश्वतोऽयं सदा धर्मः स्थितोऽस्मासु नरर्षभ।ज्येष्ठेे पुत्रे स्थिते राजा न कनीयान् भवेन्नृपः।।2.101.2।।

Transliteration

śāśvato 'yaṃ sadā dharmaḥ sthito 'smāsu nararṣabha | jyeṣṭhe putre sthite rājann na kanīyān nṛpo bhavet ||

Translation

നരശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, ഈ ശാശ്വതധർമ്മം നമ്മുടെ വംശത്തിൽ സ്ഥിരമാണ്: ജ്യേഷ്ഠപുത്രൻ നിലനിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ കനിഷ്ഠൻ രാജാവാകുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• śāśvataḥ: eternal; ancient
• śāśvataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies dharmaḥ

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb of time)

• dharmaḥ: dharma; law
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• sthitaḥ: is established
• sthitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative with dharmaḥ

• asmāsu: among us; in our line
• asmāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (Locative/7th), Bahuvacana

• nararṣabha: O best of men
• nararṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; 'bull among men'

• jyeṣṭhe: in the eldest
• jyeṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana; qualifies putre

• putre: son
• putre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana

• sthite: when (he) is present/established
• sthite: Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle, Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative absolute with jyeṣṭhe putre

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha (negation particle)

• kanīyān: younger
• kanīyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kanīyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; comparative degree; subject complement to nṛpaḥ

• bhavet: should be; can be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ lakāra (Optative), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• nṛpaḥ: king
• nṛpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

O best of men! there is an ancient tradition in our race that the younger son cannot become king when the eldest is there.

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

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

Maryādā (normative order) governs succession: rightful precedence prevents disorder and personal ambition from overriding justice.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata argues from dynastic dharma that he cannot accept the throne while Rāma, the elder, lives.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to lawful order and rejection of opportunism.