Valmiki Ramayana 2.102.34 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 102, Shloka 34

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Devanagari script

महाबलानां रुदतां कुर्वतामुदकं पितुः।विज्ञाय तुमुलं शब्दं त्रस्ता भरत सैनिकाः।।।

Transliteration

mahābalānāṃ rudatāṃ kurvatām udakaṃ pituḥ |

vijñāya tumulaṃ śabdaṃ trastā bharatasainikāḥ ||

Translation

Mendengar gemuruh suara para pahlawan perkasa—meratap sambil mempersembahkan air upacara kepada ayahanda—para askar Bharata pun menjadi cemas dan ketakutan.

Word by Word

• mahābalānām: of the mighty (ones)
• mahābalānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् of (implicit) brothers; कर्मधारयः: महत् बलं येषाम् (mighty)

• rudatām: of those weeping
• rudatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rud (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• kurvatām: of those making (offerings)
• kurvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of those doing/offering’

• udakam: water (libation)
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pituḥ: for (their) father
• pituḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (dative/4th), एकवचन (Vedic/epic dative form); ‘for the father’

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): having known/realized; उपसर्गः: वि

• tumulam: tumultuous
• tumulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of śabdam

• śabdam: sound/noise
• śabdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• trastāḥ: alarmed/frightened
• trastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trasta (प्रातिपदिक; √tras)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् of sainikāḥ

• bharata-sainikāḥ: Bharata's soldiers
• bharata-sainikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + sainika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: भरतस्य सैनिकाः (Bharata's soldiers)

Context

The soldiers of Bharata were alarmed on hearing the tumultuous sounds raised by those mighty brothers offering libations of water and lamenting.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sita
• Father (Dasharatha, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma as śrāddha-like duty: offering water to the departed is a righteous act of remembrance and responsibility, even in exile and crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

The brothers’ intense lamentation during the water-offering creates a loud uproar that startles the accompanying army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and duty toward ancestors: the rite for the father is treated as essential, not optional.