Shloka 24

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

दातुं च तावदिच्छामि स्वर्गतस्य महीपतेः।और्ध्वदेहनिमित्तार्थमवतीर्योदकं नदीम्।।2.83.24।।

Transliteration

dātuṃ ca tāvad icchāmi svargatasya mahīpateḥ |

aurdhvadehanimittārtham avatīrya udakaṃ nadīm || 2.83.24 ||

Translation

Por ora, desejo descer ao rio e oferecer libações de água (tarpana) ao rei falecido, para que sua jornada no além seja abençoada.

Word by Word

• दातुम्: to offer / to give
• दातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), दानार्थक क्रिया (to give/offer)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तावत्: for now / meanwhile
• तावत्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; मर्यादा/अवधारण (for the time being/just now)

• इच्छामि: I wish
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• स्वर्गतस्य: of the departed (to heaven)
• स्वर्गतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (of one who has gone to heaven)

• महीपतेः: of the king
• महीपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• और्ध्वदेहनिमित्तार्थम्: for the purpose of the post-funeral rite
• और्ध्वदेहनिमित्तार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: और्ध्वदेह + निमित्त + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-प्रधान (for the purpose connected with the ‘after-death rite’)

• अवतीर्य: having descended
• अवतीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-तॄ (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having descended)

• उदकम्: water (libation)
• उदकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• नदीम्: (into) the river
• नदीम्: Karma/Adhikarana (कर्म/अधिकरण—goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); गत्यर्थे (into the river)

Context

Meanwhile, I shall get into this river and offer libations with water to the departed king for the good of his life in the other world.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha (departed king)
• river (Gaṅgā implied by immediate context)

FAQs

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

Pitṛdharma: the duty of a son/relative to honor the deceased through water-libations and rites, ensuring respect, gratitude, and continuity of sacred obligations even amid political crisis.

What is the narrative situation?

While halted near the great river on the journey to meet Rāma, Bharata resolves to perform libations for the departed king Daśaratha before proceeding.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s reverence and conscientiousness—he prioritizes rightful ritual duty and remembrance of his father alongside his urgent mission to bring Rāma back.