Valmiki Ramayana 2.104.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 4

भरतस्य प्रार्थना · रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः कैकयीपुत्रः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना ।

प्रगृह्य बलवद्भूयः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.104.4

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ kaikayīputraḥ kākutsthena mahātmanā |

pragṛhya balavad bhūyaḥ prāñjalir vākyam abravīt ||4||

Translation

एवं महात्मना काकुत्स्थेनोक्तः कैकयीपुत्रो भरतः। पुनर्बलवदात्मानं समालम्ब्य प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमिदमब्रवीत्॥

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Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-निपात (quotative)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) > ukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘√वच्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (having been addressed)

• kaikayī-putraḥ: son of Kaikeyī (Bharata)
• kaikayī-putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaikayī + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कैकय्याः पुत्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kākutsthena: by Kakutstha (Rama)
• kākutsthena: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• mahātmanā: by the great-souled one
• mahātmanā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘काकुत्थेन’ इति विशेषणम्

• pragṛhya: having held/taken
• pragṛhya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive) ‘प्र-√ग्रह्’ = ‘प्रगृह्य/गृहीत्वा’ (having taken/holding)

• balavat: strongly
• balavat: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: balavat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: strongly)

• bhūyaḥ: again
• bhūyaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्यय (again, once more)

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्राञ्जलि’ = ‘प्रगृहीताञ्जलिः’ (with joined palms)

• vākyam: words, statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfect-like past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Thus enquired by the magnanimous Rama, Bharata, joining his palms tightly, replied:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Respectful speech and humility are part of dharma; even amid crisis, Bharata approaches Rama with reverence and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

After Rama’s question/statement, the narration describes Bharata’s composed, reverent posture as he begins to reply.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and self-control—Bharata steadies himself and speaks with folded hands.