Valmiki Ramayana 2.69.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 12

भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम्

Bharata’s Ominous Dream

Devanagari script

स्वप्नेऽपि सागरं शुष्कं चन्द्रं च पतितं भवि।उपरुद्धां च जगतीं तमसेव समावृताम्।।2.69.11।।औपवाह्यस्य नागस्य विषाणं शकलीकृतम्।सहसाचापि संशान्तं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्।।2.69.12।।अवतीर्णां च पृथिवीं शुष्कां श्च विविधान् द्रुमान्।अहं पश्यामि विध्वस्तान् सधूमांश्चापि पर्वतान्।।2.69.13।।

Transliteration

aupavāhyasya nāgasya viṣāṇaṃ śakalīkṛtam | sahasā cāpi saṃśāntaṃ jvalitaṃ jātavedasam || 2.69.12 ||

Translation

സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ ഞാൻ രാജയോഗ്യവും സവാരിയ്ക്കു യോജ്യവുമായ ആനയുടെ ദന്തം തകർന്നു തുണ്ടുതുണ്ടായതും, ജ്വലിച്ചിരുന്ന അഗ്നി പെട്ടെന്നു ശമിച്ചതും കണ്ടു—ബലവും മംഗലക്രമവും തകർന്നുപോകുമെന്ന അപശകുനസൂചനയായി.

Word by Word

• pīṭhe: on a seat
• pīṭhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• kārṣṇāyase: iron (made of iron)
• kārṣṇāyase: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārṣṇāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘pīṭhe’): ‘made of iron’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• enam: this (him)
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• niṣaṇṇam: seated
• niṣaṇṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣaṇṇa (कृदन्त; ni-√sad धातु, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘enam’)

• kṛṣṇa-vāsasam: clad in black clothes
• kṛṣṇa-vāsasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘कृष्णं वासः यस्य’ (having black garments); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘enam’)

• prahasanti: laugh (at)
• prahasanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: has (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: pra-

• sma: indeed (past narrative marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-शब्दः भूतार्थे/वृत्त्यर्थे (particle indicating past/habitual in narration)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pramadāḥ: women
• pramadāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• kṛṣṇa-piṅgalāḥ: dark-tawny (complexioned)
• kṛṣṇa-piṅgalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + piṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara): ‘कृष्णाश्च पिङ्गलाश्च’ (dark and tawny); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘pramadāḥ’)

Context

In that dream I beheld the sea being dried up and the Moon fallen onto the ground. I saw the earth as though enveloped by darkness and obscured, the tusk of an elephant worthy of a ride by the monarch broken into pieces, a blazing fire extinguished suddenly, the earth split open, various trees dried up and mountains crumbled and covered with smoke.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• nāga (elephant)

FAQs

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

The verse frames ‘dharma’ indirectly through ominous symbols: royal power (elephant-tusk) and sacred order (fire) appear broken and extinguished. The implied lesson is vigilance—when signs of disorder arise, one should respond with responsibility, truthfulness, and care for the kingdom’s moral order rather than denial or complacency.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata has awakened distressed after a frightening dream. He recounts specific dream-images as inauspicious omens, foreshadowing calamity in Ayodhya and danger to the royal household.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s sincerity and moral sensitivity: he is deeply unsettled by signs that threaten righteousness and the welfare of others, showing conscientious concern rather than self-interest.