Valmiki Ramayana 2.79.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 7

भरतस्य राज्यत्यागः तथा रामानयनप्रतिज्ञा

Bharata Rejects Kingship and Vows to Bring Rama Back

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठस्य राजता नित्यमुचिता हि कुलस्य नः।नैवं भवन्तो मां वक्तुमर्हन्ति कुशला जनाः।।2.79.7।।

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhasya rājatā nityam ucitā hi kulasya naḥ | naivaṃ bhavanto māṃ vaktum arhanti kuśalā janāḥ ||2.79.7||

Translation

Царская власть в нашем роду всегда по праву принадлежит старшему; вам, людям разумным и искусным, не подобает говорить со мной так.

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठस्य: of the eldest
• ज्येष्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of the eldest’

• राजता: kingship
• राजता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; subject

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/नित्यत्ववाचक (adverb)

• उचिता: befitting
• उचिता: Predicate (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ucita (कृदन्त; √uc उचिते/योग्ये)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate adjective of राजता

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (emphasis/indeed)

• कुलस्य: of the dynasty
• कुलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of the family’

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• भवन्तः: you (all)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; honorific ‘you (all)’; subject of अर्हन्ति

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वक्तुम्: to say
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु; वचने)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), ‘to speak/say’

• अर्हन्ति: are fit/ought
• अर्हन्ति: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु; अर्ह पूजायाम्/योग्यत्वे)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• कुशलाः: wise/competent
• कुशलाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; qualifying जनाः

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; in apposition to भवन्तः

Context

O illutrious prince! do assume kingship now. Incidentally, there has been yet no attack on this leaderless kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma (implied as the eldest)
• Kula (dynasty)

FAQs

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

Legitimacy grounded in dharma and truth: Bharata asserts the rightful order—rule belongs to the eldest heir—so personal gain must not override moral law.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata responds to the public request that he be crowned, rejecting it on the grounds of dynastic and ethical propriety.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and renunciation: Bharata refuses undeserved power and upholds Rāma’s rightful claim.