Valmiki Ramayana 2.92.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 92, Shloka 14

भरद्वाजाश्रमात् चित्रकूटमार्गनिर्देशः · Directions from Bharadvaja’s Hermitage to Chitrakuta

Setting: Roadside/encampment during Bharata’s departure toward CitrakūṭaMoment of departure (prayāṇa)

Devanagari script

प्रयाणमिति तच्छ्रुत्वा रजराजस्य योषितः ।

हित्वा यानानि यानार्हाः ब्राह्मणं पर्यवारयन् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.92.14

Transliteration

prayāṇam iti tac chrutvā rāja-rājasya yoṣitaḥ |

hitvā yānāni yānārhāḥ brāhmaṇaṃ paryavārayan ||14||

Translation

പുറപ്പെടാനുള്ള സമയമാണെന്ന് കേട്ട ദശരഥരാജന്റെ പത്നിമാർ—യാത്രാവാഹനങ്ങളിൽ ഇരിക്കാൻ യോജ്യരായിരുന്നിട്ടും—വാഹനങ്ങൾ വിട്ട് ബ്രാഹ്മണ ഋഷിയെ ചുറ്റിനിന്നു.

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Word by Word

• प्रयाणम्: departure/journey
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘journey’ as quoted content with इति
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)
• Role: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)

• तत्: that (news)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of श्रुत्वा
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• रजराजस्य: of the king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘राज्ञां राजा’ (king of kings)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• योषितः: women/wives
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• हित्वा: having left/abandoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• यानानि: vehicles/carriages
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• यान-अर्हाः: worthy of riding
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘यानं अर्हन्ति’ (worthy of vehicles)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ब्राह्मणम्: the brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पर्यवारयन्: surrounded/stood around
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + अव + वृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; causative/denominative sense ‘surrounded/encircled’ (epic usage)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• तच्छ्रुत्वा = तत् + श्रुत्वा

Context

When they heard about the journey, the wives of Dasaratha descended from their chariots worthy of them and stood around the brahmin, Bharadwaja.

The teaching

In calamity, status yields to sincerity; dharma is sought by approaching the wise with humility.

Duties in tension

• Royal decorum and comfort
• Urgent need for dharmic counsel and humility in crisis

Ethical theme

Ācārya-sevā / śaraṇāgati

How it resolves

Humbling oneself before spiritual authority

Devotion and practice

Models guru-vandana and humility; supports practices of seeking counsel, prayerful listening, and surrender.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Hushed, reverent, unsettled

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Guru-bhakti
• Śraddhā
• Humility

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Bharadvāja (implied by context as the brahmin-sage)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is humility and reverence toward brahmin-sages: even royal status yields to the higher duty of honoring spiritual authority.

What is the narrative situation?

During the forest-journey episode connected with Bharata’s party, the queens hear of departure and approach the sage, leaving their royal conveyances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Modesty and respect—royal women set aside comfort and status to stand attentively near the sage.