Valmiki Ramayana 2.69.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 1

भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम्

Bharata’s Ominous Dream

Devanagari script

यामेव रात्रिं ते दूताः प्रविशन्ति स्म तां पुरीम्।भरतेनापि तां रात्रिं स्वप्नो दृष्टोऽयमप्रियः।।।।

Transliteration

yām eva rātriṃ te dūtāḥ praviśanti sma tāṃ purīm | bharatenāpi tāṃ rātriṃ svapno dṛṣṭo 'yam apriyaḥ || 2.69.1 ||

Translation

ആ ദൂതന്മാർ നഗരത്തിലേക്ക് പ്രവേശിച്ച അതേ രാത്രിയിൽ തന്നെ ഭരതനും ഒരു അപ്രിയവും വ്യാകുലമാക്കുന്നതുമായ സ്വപ്നം കണ്ടു.

Word by Word

• yām: which (night)
• yām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यद् (relative) विशेषणम् (rātrim)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis particle/अवधारणाव्यय)

• rātrim: night
• rātrim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of 'entered' / time-accusative)

• te: those
• te: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (dūtāḥ)

• dūtāḥ: messengers
• dūtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• praviśanti: were entering
• praviśanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present) used with स्म = भूतार्थ (past sense), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• sma: (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म (past-marker particle/भूतार्थक निपात)

• tām: that
• tām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (purīm)

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of entering)

• bharatena: by Bharata
• bharatena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे (agent in passive construction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि (also/even particle)

• tām: that
• tām: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (rātrim)

• rātrim: night
• rātrim: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालाधिकरणे द्वितीया (time-accusative)

• svapnaḥ: dream
• svapnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्ता (subject in passive)

• dṛṣṭaḥ: was seen
• dṛṣṭaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś धातु, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: 'was seen')

• ayam: this
• ayam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (svapnaḥ)

• apriyaḥ: distressing/unpleasant
• apriyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (svapnaḥ)

Context

On the very night the messengers were entering the city, Bharata had a distressing dream.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• dūta (messengers)

FAQs

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

Dharma-oriented narratives often mark moral crises with omens; the verse signals that unseen consequences follow unrighteous upheaval, urging vigilance and truth-seeking.

What is the narrative situation?

As the envoys arrive, Bharata experiences a troubling dream that foreshadows the calamity in Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sensitivity of conscience—Bharata is portrayed as inwardly responsive to impending adharma and sorrow.