Valmiki Ramayana 2.92.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 92, Shloka 8

भरद्वाजाश्रमात् चित्रकूटमार्गनिर्देशः

Directions from Bharadvaja’s Hermitage to Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

आश्रमं तस्य धर्मज्ञ धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः। आचक्ष्व कतमो मार्गः कियानिति च शंस मे।।2.92.8।।

Transliteration

āśramaṃ tasya dharmajña dhārmikasya mahātmanaḥ | ācakṣva katamo mārgaḥ kiyān iti ca śaṃsa me ||2.92.8||

Translation

Wahai yang mengetahui dharma, ceritakan kepadaku tentang pertapaan insan agung itu yang benar dan berpegang pada dharma: jalan manakah yang menuju ke sana, dan berapa jauhkah dari sini?

Word by Word

• आश्रमम्: hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्य: of that (person)
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• धर्मज्ञ: O knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; समास: धर्मं जानाति (knower of dharma)

• धार्मिकस्य: of the righteous
• धार्मिकस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; qualifies महात्मनः

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समास: महान् आत्मा यस्य (great-souled)

• आचक्ष्व: tell/point out
• आचक्ष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कतमः: which (one)
• कतमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative adjective qualifying मार्गः

• मार्गः: path/route
• मार्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कियान्: how far/how long
• कियान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कियत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; interrogative adjective (how great/how far)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यपरिसमाप्ति/उद्धरण (thus)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• शंस: tell/declare
• शंस: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी एकवचन (enclitic); here dative: 'to me'

Context

O knower of righteousness! Tell me which path leads to the hermitage of that righteous and magnanimous one (Rama)? And how far is it (from here)?

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Bharadvāja
• Rāma (as the dhārmika mahātmā)
• āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as purposeful seeking of the righteous: Bharata’s urgency to reach the dhārmika (Rāma) reflects commitment to truth, reconciliation, and rightful order.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata asks Bharadvāja for directions and distance to Rāma’s hermitage so he can proceed without delay.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Earnestness in right action—Bharata prioritizes meeting Rāma and restoring what is ethically proper.