Valmiki Ramayana 2.106.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 23

भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः

Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return

Devanagari script

श्रुतेन बालः स्थानेन जन्मना भवतो ह्यहम्।स कथं पालयिष्यामि भूमिं भवति तिष्ठति।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.106.23

Transliteration

śrutena bālaḥ sthānena janmanā bhavato hy aham |

sa kathaṁ pālayiṣyāmi bhūmiṁ bhavati tiṣṭhati ||

Translation

ശ്രുതി (വിദ്യ), സ്ഥാനം, ജന്മം—ഇവയിൽ എല്ലാം ഞാൻ അങ്ങിനെക്കാൾ ചെറുതാണ്. അങ്ങ് ഇവിടെ നിലകൊള്ളുമ്പോൾ, എന്നെപ്പോലുള്ളവൻ ഭൂമിയെ എങ്ങനെ ഭരിക്കും?

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Word by Word

• श्रुतेन: in learning/knowledge
• श्रुतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; from श्रु धातु)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (instrumental: ‘by learning/knowledge’)

• बालः: young/inexperienced
• बालः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; predicative about अहम्

• स्थानेन: in position/status
• स्थानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• जन्मना: by birth
• जन्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• भवतः: than you / of you
• भवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (genitive: ‘of you/than you’ in comparison)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; (1st person pronoun)

• सः: such (a one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (referring to ‘I’ as such)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय

• पालयिष्यामि: shall govern/protect
• पालयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूमिम्: the earth/kingdom
• भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• भवति: you are / it is (when you...)
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तिष्ठति: stand/remain
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Being younger to you in knowledge, position and birth, how can I rule the earth when you are present?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama

FAQs

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

Dharma includes recognizing rightful authority and personal limitations; governance should rest with the most qualified and legitimate protector of the people.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata refuses the throne and insists Rama must rule; he argues he cannot govern while Rama, superior in every respect, is alive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s humility and integrity—he rejects power and acknowledges Rama’s precedence.