Shloka 18

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality

Devanagari script

यथाऽगारं दृढस्थूणं जीर्णं भूत्वाऽवसीदति।तथैव सीदन्ति नरा जरामृत्युवशं गताः।।2.105.18।।

Transliteration

yathā 'gāraṃ dṛḍhasthūṇaṃ jīrṇaṃ bhūtvā 'vasīdati | tathaiva sīdanti narā jarāmṛtyuvaśaṃ gatāḥ ||2.105.18||

Translation

ਜਿਵੇਂ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ਥੰਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ ਘਰ ਵੀ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਢਹਿ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਬੁਢਾਪੇ ਤੇ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਵੱਸ ਪਏ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਘਿਸ ਕੇ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; यथा (correlative adverb)

• agāram: a house
• agāram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛḍha-sthūṇam: with firm pillars
• dṛḍha-sthūṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha + sthūṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दृढाः स्थूणाः यस्य तत्)

• jīrṇam: worn-out/dilapidated
• jīrṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Hetu/पूर्वकर्म (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय

• avasīdati: sinks/decays
• avasīdati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√sad (सद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tathā: so/in that way
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथ (correlative adverb)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• sīdanti: they perish/sink
• sīdanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sad (सद्) (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• narāḥ: men/people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• jarā-mṛtyu-vaśam: under the control of old age and death
• jarā-mṛtyu-vaśam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म; 'gatāḥ' complements)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarā + mṛtyu + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जरया मृ्त्युना च वशः/वशम् = under the sway of old age and death)

• gatāḥ: having gone/come to
• gatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Context

A night that once passe off does not return like the waters of river Yamuna that flowinto the ocean filled with water (the water do not flow back into Yamuna).

FAQs

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

It supports non-attachment and responsibility: since decline is natural, dharma lies in right living now, not in clinging to the body’s permanence.

What is the narrative situation?

A comparison is drawn between structural decay and human aging to console and instruct in a time of sorrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prājñatā (wisdom): the ability to interpret suffering through universal law rather than personal grievance.