Valmiki Ramayana 2.69.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 19

भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम् · Bharata’s Ominous Dream

Spoken by BharataSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

एतन्निमित्तं दीनोऽहं तन्नवः प्रतिपूजये ।

शुष्यतीव च मे कण्ठः न स्वस्थमिव मे मनः ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.69.19

Transliteration

etan nimittaṃ dīno 'haṃ tan na vaḥ pratipūjaye |

śuṣyatīva ca me kaṇṭho na svastham iva me manaḥ ||19||

Translation

Kerana alamat itu, aku menjadi murung dan tidak mampu menyambut kalian dengan sewajarnya. Tekakku seakan-akan kering, dan hatiku seolah-olah tidak tenteram.

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Word by Word

• etat: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; निमित्तम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• nimittam: reason/cause
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)

• dīnaḥ: distressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अहम् इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tat: therefore
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/सम्बन्धबोधक (therefore/so)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• vaḥ: to you (all)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (4th Dative / 6th Genitive), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to you) प्रायः
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• pratipūjaye: I honor/receive properly
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√pūj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• śuṣyati: dries up/parches
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śuṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• iva: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक निपात (comparative particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• me: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• kaṇṭhaḥ: throat
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• svastham: healthy/at ease
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मनः इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• iva: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक निपात
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• me: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• manaḥ: mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• दीनोऽहं = दीनः + अहम्
• तन्न = तत् + न
• शुष्यतीव = शुष्यति + इव

Context

So it is for this reason that I am desolate and cannot respond well to your conversation. It appears as if my throat is getting parched up and my mind is ill-disposed.

The teaching

Emotional upheaval can impede social duty; acknowledging distress is the first step toward regaining steadiness for dharma.

Duties in tension

• Rāja-kula maryādā (proper reception/reciprocity) vs. incapacitating grief and fear
• Self-control (dama) vs. involuntary somatic distress

Ethical theme

Self-mastery / śoka-management

For your practice

Useful for recognizing signs of anxiety and turning to japa/prāṇāyāma for steadiness; cultivates compassion toward one’s own mind.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Despondent, parched, unsettled

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Emotional truth
• Compassion
• Foreboding

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma includes truthful speech about one’s capacity: Bharata admits he cannot offer proper courtesies because of inner distress. The verse teaches integrity—acknowledging one’s state honestly rather than performing empty politeness.

What is the narrative situation?

After explaining the ominous dream, Bharata describes its immediate effect on him—physical dryness and mental unease—explaining why he seems withdrawn from conversation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Honesty and humility: Bharata does not pretend composure; he openly shares his weakness and fear.