Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 75, Shloka 60

अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Sarga 75: Bharata and Kausalya—Reproach, Oaths, and Reconciliation

Devanagari script

तथा तु शपथैः कष्टै श्शपमानमचेतनम्।भरतं शोकसन्तप्तं कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tathā tu śapathaiḥ kaṣṭaiḥ śapamānam acetanam | bharataṃ śokasantaptaṃ kausalyā vākyam abravīt ||

Translation

ଏପରି ଶୋକରେ ଦଗ୍ଧ ହୋଇ ଭରତ ଅଚେତନ ହୋଇ ପଡ଼ିଥିଲେ ଓ କଷ୍ଟଦାୟକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଶପଥ କରୁଥିଲେ; ସେତେବେଳେ କୌସଲ୍ୟା ତାଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ବଚନ କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, adversative/emphatic)

• शपथैः: by oaths
• शपथैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śapatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• कष्टैः: painful, harsh
• कष्टैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying शपथैः)

• शपमानम्: swearing
• शपमानम्: Karma (कर्म) / Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śap (धातु) + śapamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्); परस्मैपद-धातु √śap; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; (भरतम् इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणरूपेण)

• अचेतनम्: unconscious, senseless
• अचेतनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acetana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भरतम्)

• भरतम्: Bharata
• भरतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• शोकसन्तप्तम्: tormented by grief
• शोकसन्तप्तम्: Karma (कर्म) / Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka + santapta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शोकेन सन्तप्तः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भरतम्)

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• कौसल्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: words, a speech
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Context

After having addressed Bharata, who was affectionate towards his brother that way, Kausalya drew the mighty-armed one onto her lap and hugged him and cried out with extreme grief.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Kausalyā

FAQs

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

The verse frames a dharmic tension: truth and oath-taking must be guided by emotional restraint; Kausalyā prepares to counsel Bharata away from self-harmful extremes.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata collapses in grief and repeatedly swears intense oaths; Kausalyā begins addressing him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalyā’s role as moral guide: she intervenes with speech (upadeśa) when grief destabilizes conduct.