Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 6

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

स्त्रिया नियुक्तः कैकेय्या मम मात्रा परन्तप।चकार सा महत्पापमिदमात्मयशोहरम्।।।।

Transliteration

striyā niyuktaḥ kaikeyyā mama mātrā parantapa |

cakāra sā mahat pāpam idam ātma-yaśo-haram ||

Translation

परंतप राम! एका स्त्रीच्या प्रवृत्तीनं माझी माता कैकेयीने हे महान पाप केले आहे, जे तिचे स्वतःचे यश हरपविणारे आहे।

Word by Word

• striyā: by a woman
• striyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• niyuktaḥ: instigated
• niyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-yuj (धातु) > niyukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘नि-√युज्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मात्रा’ इति विशेषणम् (instigated/appointed)

• kaikeyyā: by Kaikeyī
• kaikeyyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikeyī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• mātrā: mother
• mātrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• parantapa: O tormentor of foes
• parantapa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parantapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयार्थ-नाम (परान् तपति इति)

• cakāra: did/committed
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sumahat: very great
• sumahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (अतिशयेन महत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘pāpam’ इति विशेषणम्

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘pāpam’ इति विशेषणम्

• ātma-yaśaḥ-haram: destroying one’s own fame
• ātma-yaśaḥ-haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman + yaśas + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः यशः हरति इति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘pāpam’ इति विशेषणम्

Context

O Rama, tormentor of enemies! having been instigated by a woman, my motherKaikeyi, committed this great sin of destroying his (Dasaratha's) reputation.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Kaikeyi

FAQs

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

Dharma includes guarding one’s conduct and reputation (yaśas) through righteous choices; wrongdoing—especially caused by harmful counsel—brings moral stain and social dishonor.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is speaking to Rāma during his appeal for Rāma’s return, condemning the chain of counsel that led Kaikeyī to demand the exile and the kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s integrity and moral clarity: he refuses to normalize injustice and openly names the act as pāpa (sin).