Valmiki Ramayana 2.79.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 13

भरतस्य राज्यत्यागः तथा रामानयनप्रतिज्ञा

Bharata Rejects Kingship and Vows to Bring Rama Back

Spoken by BharataSetting: अयोध्या (प्रस्थान-पूर्व व्यवस्था)Places named: पन्थाः (road/route), दुर्ग (difficult terrain)Route preparation for the forest-bound expedition

Devanagari script

क्रियतां शिल्पिभिः पन्था स्समानि विषमाणि च ।

रक्षिणश्चानुसम्यान्तु पथि दुर्गविचारकाः ॥१३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.79.13

Transliteration

kriyatāṃ śilpibhiḥ panthāḥ samāni viṣamāṇi ca |

rakṣiṇaś cānusamyāntu pathi durgavicārakāḥ ||13||

Translation

Niech rzemieślnicy przygotują drogę, wyrównując nierówności, a strażnicy biegli w ocenie trudnego terenu niech podążają za orszakiem wzdłuż trasy.

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Word by Word

• क्रियताम्: let (it) be made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आज्ञार्थ (let it be done/made)
• Role: क्रिया (Main verb; passive injunction)

• शिल्पिभिः: by the artisans
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिल्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन
• Role: करण (Karana/Instrument/Agent in passive)

• पन्थाः: the road/path
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma; subject of passive)

• समानि: level (parts)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन; विशेषण (understood: स्थानानि/भूमिभागानि)
• Role: कर्म (Object; things to be made level)

• विषमाणि: uneven (parts)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन; विशेषण
• Role: कर्म (Object; uneven parts)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (and)
• Role: समुच्चय (Coordinator)

• रक्षिणः: guards
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (and)
• Role: समुच्चय (Coordinator)

• अनुसम्यान्तु: let them follow/come along
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-सम्-या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन
• Role: क्रिया (Main verb)

• पथि: on the way
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ्/पन्थन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन
• Role: अधिकरण (Location)

• दुर्गविचारकाः: inspectors of difficult terrain
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गविचारक (प्रातिपदिक: दुर्ग + विचारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (दुर्गस्य विचारकः = examiner of difficult terrain)
• Role: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• पन्था स्समानि → पन्थाः समानि (visarga + स)
• रक्षिणश्चानुसम्यान्तु → रक्षिणः च अनुसम्यान्तु (ः + च; च + अ)

Context

Let the road be aligned by artisans and uneven ground be levelled. The guards who judge the inaccessible terrains should follow them on their way.

The teaching

धर्म-कार्ये केवलं भावः न, व्यवस्था अपि आवश्यक—मार्ग-निर्माण, सुरक्षा, अनुशासन।

Ethical theme

कर्तव्य/प्रशासन-धर्म

For your practice

साधना में ‘मार्ग-सम्यक्-करण’—अनुशासन, तैयारी, सतर्कता।

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Organized, practical, mobilizing

Themes

• Dharma
• Governance
• Public duty
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Guards (rakṣiṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsible leadership: righteous intent must be matched by practical care for people’s safety and orderly administration.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata organizes logistics for the journey to the forest—roadwork and security—so the mission to restore Rāma proceeds effectively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent stewardship: Bharata shows foresight and concern for collective welfare while pursuing a dharmic goal.