Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 23

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

त्वया राज्यमयोध्यायां प्राप्तव्यं लोकसत्कृतम्।वस्तव्यं दण्डकारण्ये मया वल्कलवाससा।।।।

Transliteration

tvayā rājyam ayodhyāyāṁ prāptavyaṁ lokasatkṛtam |

vastavyaṁ daṇḍakāraṇye mayā valkalavāsasā ||

Translation

അയോധ്യയിൽ ജനങ്ങൾ ആദരിക്കുന്ന രാജ്യം നീ ഏറ്റെടുത്തു ഭരിക്കണം; ഞാൻ വൽക്കലവസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചു ദണ്ഡകാരണ്യത്തിൽ വസിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अयोध्यायाम्: in Ayodhya
• अयोध्यायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्राप्तव्यम्: is to be obtained
• प्राप्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु) (प्र + √आप्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तव्यता/अनिवार्यता

• लोकसत्कृतम्: honoured by the world
• लोकसत्कृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-सत्कृत (कृदन्त; सम् + √कृ (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: लोकेन सत्कृतम्

• वस्तव्यम्: (I) must dwell
• वस्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (मया इत्यस्य कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः)

• दण्डकारण्ये: in the Dandaka forest
• दण्डकारण्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डकारण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: दण्डकानां अरण्यम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वल्कलवाससा: with bark-garments
• वल्कलवाससा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्कलवासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वल्कलस्य वासः (garment of bark)

Context

You shall rule the kingdom well-honoured by the people in Ayodhya and I shall live in Dandaka forest wearing bark as garments.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Ayodhya
• Daṇḍakāraṇya

FAQs

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

Dharma assigns distinct duties: Bharata’s is governance (rājadharma) and Rama’s is faithful acceptance of exile; righteousness is doing one’s allotted role.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama delineates the division of responsibilities: Bharata in Ayodhyā as ruler, Rama in the forest as an exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tyāga (renunciation) joined with duty—Rama accepts hardship without resentment to preserve dharma.