Valmiki Ramayana 2.97.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97, Shloka 7

भरतागमनशङ्कानिवारणम् / Dispelling Suspicion about Bharata’s Arrival

Chitrakuta Encampment

Devanagari script

नेयं मम मही सौम्य दुर्लभा सागराम्बरा।न हीच्छेयमधर्मेण शक्रत्वमपि लक्ष्मण।।।।

Transliteration

na iyaṃ mama mahī saumya durlabhā sāgarāmbarā |

na hi iccheyam adharmeṇa śakratvam api lakṣmaṇa ||

Translation

हे सौम्य लक्ष्मणा! सागराने वेढलेली ही पृथ्वी मला दुर्लभ नाही; पण अधर्माने तर इंद्रपदही मला नको, लक्ष्मणा।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative singular

• मम: my, for me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• मही: earth
• मही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative singular

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• दुर्लभा: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative singular; विशेषण of मही

• सागराम्बरा: ocean-garmented (earth)
• सागराम्बरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागर (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Bahuvrihi = 'she whose garment is the ocean'; विशेषण of मही

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• इच्छेयम्: I would desire
• इच्छेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative 1sg = I would desire

• अधर्मेण: by unrighteousness
• अधर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; = by unrighteous means

• शक्रत्वम्: Indrahood, sovereignty of Indra
• शक्रत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्रत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• लक्ष्मण: O Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

Context

O Lakshmana, on the oath of righteousness, I wish wealth and pleasure as well as this kingdom for the sake of you all.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• earth (mahī)
• ocean (sāgara)
• Indra (Śakra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is superior to power: even the highest sovereignty is worthless if obtained through adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to the tense moment of Bharata’s approach by reaffirming his absolute refusal to seek rule through wrongdoing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral steadfastness—Rāma’s commitment to righteousness is non-negotiable.