Valmiki Ramayana 2.69.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 18

भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम् · Bharata’s Ominous Dream

Devanagari script

नरो यानेन य स्स्वप्ने स्वरयुक्तेन याति हि ।

अचिरात्तस्य धूमाग्रं चितायां सम्प्रदृश्यते ॥१८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.69.18

Transliteration

naro yānena yaḥ svapne kharayuktena yāti hi |

acirāt tasya dhūmāgraṃ citāyāṃ sampradṛśyate ||18||

Translation

കാരണം, സ്വപ്നത്തിൽ കഴുതകൾ കെട്ടിയ രഥത്തിൽ ഒരാൾ യാത്ര ചെയ്യുന്നതായി കണ്ടാൽ, അധികം താമസിയാതെ അവന്റെ ചിതയിൽ നിന്ന് വളഞ്ഞുയരുന്ന പുകശിഖരം കാണപ്പെടും—ഇതാണ് അപശകുനം.

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Word by Word

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• yānena: by a vehicle/chariot
• yānena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• svapne: in a dream
• svapne: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• svarayuktena: yoked/connected with asses (svara)
• svarayuktena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svara + yukta (कृदन्त; युक्त = √yuj क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वर-युक्त); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (yānena इति)

• yāti: goes/sets out
• yāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-प्राय

• acirāt: soon/in a short time
• acirāt: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: acira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्राय प्रयोग; पञ्चमी-अर्थे (ablatival adverb)

• tasya: of him/his
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• dhūmāgram: the tip/wreath of smoke
• dhūmāgram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūma + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धूमस्य अग्रं); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• citāyām: on the funeral pyre
• citāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sampradṛśyate: is seen/appears clearly
• sampradṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Context

If one beholds in a dream a person setting out on a carriage yoked to asses, the wreath of smoke ascending from his funeral pyre will be seen soon.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• khara (asses)
• citā (funeral pyre)
• dhūma (smoke)

FAQs

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

The ethical emphasis is preparedness and truthful discernment: recognizing signs (rightly or wrongly) should lead one to act responsibly—seeking facts, protecting others, and avoiding rash harm—rather than indulging superstition for manipulation.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata supports his fear by citing a conventional rule of dream-omens: travel by an ass-yoked vehicle foretells imminent death and cremation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Seriousness and concern for consequences: Bharata treats the dream as a warning demanding immediate attention, not as entertainment.