Valmiki Ramayana 2.77.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 8

और्ध्वदैहिकक्रिया-शोकविलापः

Obsequies for Daśaratha and the Brothers’ Lament

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा भस्मारुणं तच्च दग्धास्थि स्थानमण्डलम्।।।।पितु श्शरीरनिर्वाणं निष्टनन्विषसाद सः।

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā bhasmāruṇaṃ tac ca dagdhāsthi sthānamaṇḍalam | pituḥ śarīranirvāṇaṃ niṣṭanan viṣasāda saḥ ||

Translation

भस्मेने अरुण झालेला व जळलेल्या अस्थींनी व्यापलेला तो वर्तुळाकार प्रदेश—जिथे पित्याचे शरीर निर्वाण पावले होते—पाहून तो विलाप करीत विषादात बुडाला।

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (dṛś)
• Form: Tvanta Avyaya (Ktva Pratyaya/Gerund)

• भस्मारुणम्: reddish-brown due to ashes
• भस्मारुणम्: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मन् + अरुण (bhasman + aruṇa)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (Napumsakalinga, Dvitiya, Ekavachana)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (tad)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (Napumsakalinga, Dvitiya, Ekavachana)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (ca)
• Form: Conjunction (Samuccayarthaka)

• दग्धास्थि: containing burnt bones
• दग्धास्थि: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दग्ध + अस्थि (dagdha + asthi)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (Napumsakalinga, Dvitiya, Ekavachana)

• स्थानमण्डलम्: circular site / area of the place
• स्थानमण्डलम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान + मण्डल (sthāna + maṇḍala)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (Napumsakalinga, Dvitiya, Ekavachana)

• पितुः: father's
• पितुः: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (pitṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular (Pumlinga, Shasthi, Ekavachana)

• शरीरनिर्वाणम्: place of body's extinction (cremation)
• शरीरनिर्वाणम्: Samanadhikarana (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर + निर्वाण (śarīra + nirvāṇa)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (Napumsakalinga, Dvitiya, Ekavachana)

• निष्टनन्: groaning / crying aloud
• निष्टनन्: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + स्तन् (ni + stan)
• Form: Present Participle (Shatri), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विषसाद: became dejected / sank down
• विषसाद: Kriya (Main Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सद् (vi + sad)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect Tense), Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

• सः: he (Bharata)
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (tad)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (Pumlinga, Prathama, Ekavachana)

Context

Having seen the circular place, looking reddish-brown with burnt bones and ashes, where his father's body was consumed by fire, Bharata started crying aloud in deep despondency.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse teaches impermanence as a moral lens: recognition of mortality deepens humility and strengthens resolve to live rightly (dharma) while life remains.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata sees the physical remains of the cremation site where Daśaratha was burned, triggering intense lamentation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Filial devotion—Bharata’s grief reflects deep attachment and reverence for his father.