Valmiki Ramayana 2.105.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 105, Shloka 2

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality

Devanagari script

रजन्यां सुप्रभातायां भ्रातरस्ते सुहृद्वृताः।मन्दाकिन्यां हुतं जप्यं कृत्वा राममुपागमन्।।2.105.2।।

Transliteration

rajanyāṃ suprabhātāyāṃ bhrātaras te suhṛdvṛtāḥ | mandākinyāṃ hutaṃ japyaṃ kṛtvā rāmam upāgaman ||2.105.2||

Translation

രാത്രി ഉജ്ജ്വലമായ പ്രഭാതമായി മാറിയപ്പോൾ, സ്നേഹിതന്മാർ ചുറ്റുമുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ആ സഹോദരങ്ങൾ മന്ദാകിനീതീരത്ത് പ്രാതഃകർമ്മങ്ങൾ നടത്തി—ഹോമാർപ്പണം ചെയ്ത് ജപം ചൊല്ലി—പിന്നീട് രാമനെ സമീപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• रजन्याम्: in the night
• रजन्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/locative) एकवचन

• सुप्रभातायाम्: when it had dawned well
• सुप्रभातायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रभात (प्रातिपदिक); ‘सुप्रभात’
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘सु-प्रभाता’ = well-dawned; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘रजन्याम्’)

• भ्रातरः: the brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (demonstrative for ‘भ्रातरः’)

• सुहृद्वृताः: surrounded by friends
• सुहृद्वृताः: Karta (कर्ता; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + √वृ (धातु) + क्त; ‘वृत’
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; उपपद-सम्बन्ध: ‘सुहृद्भिः वृताः’ = surrounded by friends

• मन्दाकिन्याम्: at/on the Mandakini (river)
• मन्दाकिन्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandākinī (प्रातिपदिक; नदी-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन

• हुतम्: oblations (offered)
• हुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √हु (धातु) + क्त; ‘हुत’
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) used substantively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘oblations offered’

• जप्यम्: prayers/recitations
• जप्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त); ‘जप्य’
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory) used as noun; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘that which is to be muttered’ = prayers

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having done/performed’

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• उपागमन्: approached
• उपागमन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘approached/went to’

Context

A man is neither independent nor competent to do any act on his free will. Fate pulls him this way or the other.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Mandākinī

FAQs

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

It highlights nitya-karma (daily duties): even amid hardship, one sustains dharma through disciplined worship, prayer, and right conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

At daybreak in the forest setting near the Mandākinī, the brothers complete morning observances and then go to meet Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Religious discipline and steadiness—maintaining proper conduct and reverence despite exile and uncertainty.