Valmiki Ramayana 2.113.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 113, Shloka 9

पादुकाप्रदानं भरतस्य निवृत्तिश्च

The Sandals Bestowed; Bharata’s Return Toward Ayodhya

Spoken by Bharata to BharadvajaSetting: Citrakūṭa region (implied by context of meeting)Places named: CitrakūṭaBharata’s attempt to bring Rāma back; negotiation at forest abode

Devanagari script

स याच्यमानो गुरुणा मया च दृढविक्रमः ।

राघवः परमप्रीतो वसिष्ठं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.113.9

Transliteration

sa yācyamāno guruṇā mayā ca dṛḍha-vikramaḥ |

rāghavaḥ parama-prīto vasiṣṭhaṃ vākyam abravīt ||9||

Translation

Embora suplicado por seu preceptor e por mim, Rāghava—firme no propósito—e, ainda assim, grandemente satisfeito, disse estas palavras a Vasiṣṭha.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• याच्यमानः: being entreated
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘being entreated’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• गुरुणा: by the preceptor
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• मया: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• दृढविक्रमः: of firm valor
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (दृढः विक्रमः यस्य/दृढ-विक्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (राघवः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• राघवः: Raghava (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• परमप्रीतः: highly pleased
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (परमा प्रीतिः यस्य/परम-प्रीतः); प्री (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘प्रीत’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण (राघवः)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• वसिष्ठम्: to Vasistha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)

• वाक्यम्: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• वसिष्ठं + वाक्यम् → वसिष्ठं वाक्यम्
• वाक्यम् + अब्रवीत् → वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Context

Entreated by me and by preceptor (Vasistha), the highly pleased Rama with his firmness of mind replied to Vasistha:

The teaching

When dharma is clear, firmness (dṛḍha-niścaya) must withstand even loving entreaty; pleasure does not override principle.

Duties in tension

• Rāma’s duty to obey Daśaratha’s command and uphold truth
• Compassion toward Bharata and the kingdom’s need for a rightful ruler
• Guru’s counsel vs personal vow to dharma

Ethical theme

Satya-vrata and rāja-dharma

How it resolves

Principled steadfastness; prioritizing vow/command as higher dharma

For your practice

Contemplation on Rāma as dharma-incarnate: cultivate steadiness in vows, respectful speech to elders, and compassion without compromise of truth.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Resolute, strained, reverent

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Obedience
• Resolve
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Vasiṣṭha
• Bharata
• Bharadvāja

FAQs

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

Dharma here is steadfastness to a righteous decision even under persuasive requests—Rāma remains firm (dṛḍha-vikrama) while maintaining respect and goodwill toward elders.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata recounts that Rāma, despite entreaties by Vasiṣṭha and Bharata, addressed Vasiṣṭha—setting up Rāma’s principled reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s steadfast resolve joined with courtesy: firmness without bitterness, and reverence toward the guru.