Valmiki Ramayana 2.72.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 16

भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च

Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतो वाक्यं धर्माभिजनवाञ्चुचिः ।

पपात सहसा भूमौ पितृशोकबलार्दितः ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.72.16

Transliteration

tac chrutvā bharato vākyaṃ dharmābhijanavāṃ śuciḥ |

papāta sahasā bhūmau pitṛśokabalārditaḥ ||16||

Translation

ആ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ടപ്പോൾ ധർമ്മവംശജനായ, സ്വഭാവത്തിൽ ശുദ്ധനായ ഭരതൻ പിതൃശോകത്തിന്റെ പ്രബലബലത്തിൽ തകർന്നു ഉടൻ ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു.

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Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); here object of hearing = 'that (statement)'

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), 'having heard'

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• वाक्यम्: words / statement
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीयाविभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• धर्माभिजनवान्: born of a righteous lineage
• धर्माभिजनवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + अभिजन + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समास: धर्मस्य अभिजनः (righteous lineage) + वत् (possessing)

• शुचिः: pure-minded
• शुचिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• पपात: fell
• पपात: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• सहसा: suddenly / at once
• सहसा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमीविभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• पितृशोकबलार्दितः: afflicted by the force of grief for his father
• पितृशोकबलार्दितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + शोक + बल + आर्दित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमाविभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समास: पितुः शोकस्य बलम् (force of grief for father) तेन आर्दितः (afflicted)

Context

On hearing these words, he (Bharata), born of a righteous race and endowed with purity of character was shattered by the immense grief of his father's demise and dropped down instantaneously on the floor.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma does not deny human emotion; even the righteous may be overwhelmed by loss, yet their purity and lineage orient them back toward right action.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata reacts physically and immediately upon hearing of Daśaratha’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śaucam (inner purity) and dhārmic disposition, shown even amid intense sorrow.