Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 9

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

इमाः प्रकृतय स्सर्वा विधवा मातरश्च याः।त्वत्सकाशमनुप्राप्ता प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

imāḥ prakṛtayaḥ sarvā vidhavā mātaraś ca yāḥ |

tvat-sakāśam anuprāptāḥ prasādaṃ kartum arhasi ||

Translation

ഈ എല്ലാ പ്രജകളും, വിധവയായ മാതാക്കളും, നിങ്ങളുടെ സന്നിധിയിലേക്കു വന്നിരിക്കുന്നു; ദയചെയ്ത് അവർക്കു ഈ പ്രസാദം—ഈ അനുഗ്രഹം—നൽകുവാൻ അർഹനാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural), स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• प्रकृतयः: subjects, citizens
• प्रकृतयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण (qualifier)

• विधवाः: widows
• विधवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• मातरः: mothers
• मातरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• याः: who
• याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• त्वत्सकाशम्: to your presence
• त्वत्सकाशम्: कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य (Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + सकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्वत्-सकाश = your presence/proximity)

• अनुप्राप्ताः: having come/reached
• अनुप्राप्ताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle), प्रथमा बहुवचन स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘having reached’

• प्रसादम्: favor
• प्रसादम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-इन्फिनिटिव (to do)

• अर्हसि: you ought
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

All these subjects and your widowed mothers have come to you. It behoves you to grant them this favour.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama

FAQs

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

A king’s dharma is relational: responsibility toward subjects and dependents (especially vulnerable widows) is a central measure of righteous rule.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata points to the presence of citizens and widowed queens as a collective appeal urging Rāma to accept kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s sense of public duty: he frames the issue as the people’s welfare, not personal gain.