Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.35: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 35

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम् · Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Spoken by Bharata to AswapatiSetting: Ayodhya (just after entry)Arrival inquiry

Devanagari script

किमहं त्वरयाऽनीतः कारणेन विनानघ ॥३५॥

अशुभाशङ्कि हृदयं शीलं च पततीव मे ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.71.35

Transliteration

kim ahaṃ tvarayā nītaḥ kāraṇena vinānagha ||35||

aśubhāśaṅki hṛdayaṃ śīlaṃ ca patatīva me |

Translation

O niewinny, dlaczego zostałem sprowadzony w pośpiechu bez podania przyczyny? Moje serce przeczuwa coś niepomyślnego, a moja równowaga zdaje się mnie opuszczać.

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Word by Word

• किम्: why
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थे (why/what reason)
• Role: Hetu-prashna (हेतु-प्रश्न)

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• त्वरया: in haste
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• आनीतः: (was) brought
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘brought’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• कारणेन: with a reason
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)

• विना: without
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय; तृतीया/द्वितीयार्थ-योगे ‘without’
• Role: Nishedha-sambandha (निषेध-सम्बन्ध)

• अनघ: O blameless one
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• अशुभाशङ्कि: suspecting inauspiciousness
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुभाशङ्किन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हृदयम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः अशुभं शङ्कते इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• हृदयम्: heart
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• शीलम्: disposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)

• पतति: falls/declines
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)
• Role: Upamana (उपमान)

• मे: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; enclitic
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)

Sandhi Notes

• किमहं = किम् + अहम्
• त्वरयाऽनीतः = त्वरया + आनीतः (अवग्रह)
• विनानघ = विना + अनघ
• पततीव = पतति + इव।

Context

O irreproachable one, why was I brought here in haste without any reason? My mind apprehends something inauspicious. I feel indisposed.

The teaching

In governance and family duty, secrecy that breeds fear is harmful; truth spoken at the right time steadies the mind.

Duties in tension

• Duty of attendants to convey truth vs obedience to secrecy
• Bharata’s duty to remain composed vs natural fear of calamity
• Need for swift action vs need for verified information

Ethical theme

Satya / rāja-nīti (ethical communication)

For your practice

Use fear as a prompt for inquiry and grounding; cultivate dhṛti (steadfastness) when ‘śīla’ feels like it is falling.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Ominous, trembling, urgent

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Communication
• Anxiety

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Aśvapati

FAQs

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

Dharma values truthful, timely communication; secrecy and haste without explanation create fear and moral instability in those responsible for action.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata questions why he was urgently summoned back, sensing misfortune.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and seriousness—Bharata seeks reasons and truth, not mere appearances.