Shloka 13

पितृवाक्यपालनम्, गयाश्रुति-उपदेशः, भरतस्य राज्यग्रहण-निर्देशः

Rama’s Counsel on Vows, the Gaya Śruti, and Bharata’s Return to Rule

Devanagari script

एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा गुणवन्तो बहुश्रुताः।तेषां वै समवेतानामपि कश्चिद्गयां व्रजेत्।।2.107.13।।

Transliteration

eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā guṇavanto bahuśrutāḥ | teṣāṃ vai samavetānām api kaścid gayāṃ vrajet ||

Translation

ਬਹੁਤੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ—ਗੁਣਵਾਨ ਤੇ ਬਹੁ-ਸ਼੍ਰੁਤ—ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਹਨ; ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਉਹ ਸਭ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋਣ ਤੱਥਾਪਿ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਇੱਕ ਤਾਂ ਗਯਾ ਜਾ ਕੇ ਪਿਤ੍ਰ-ਕਰਮ (ਸ਼ਰਾਧ) ਕਰੇ।

Word by Word

• eṣṭavyāḥ: to be desired
• eṣṭavyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣ (धातु) → eṣṭavya (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Plural; gerundive (तव्यत्) = 'to be desired' agreeing with putrāḥ

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Plural

• putrāḥ: sons
• putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Plural

• guṇavantaḥ: virtuous
• guṇavantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Plural

• bahuśrutāḥ: learned
• bahuśrutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu-śruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Plural; tatpuruṣa: bahu + śruta (much-heard = learned)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), emphasis

• samavetānām: of those assembled
• samavetānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of teṣām
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ava-i (धातु) → samaveta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Genitive (6th), Plural; past participle used adjectivally 'assembled'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle), even/also

• kaścit: someone, any one
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Singular; indefinite pronoun

• gayām: to Gaya
• gayām: Karma (कर्म) (goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular (as place-name)

• vrajet: should go/might go
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

Context

One should desire many virtuous and learned sons so that at least one of them may go to Gaya (to perform the father's obsequies).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Dharma is continuity of familial and ancestral obligations: ensuring that at least one descendant can perform required rites sustains social and spiritual order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma continues the traditional teaching connected with Gayā, emphasizing practical fulfillment of ancestral duties.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility toward lineage—valuing virtue and learning in children so duties can be carried out rightly.