Valmiki Ramayana 2.76.3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 76, Shloka 3

दशरथस्य अन्त्येष्टि

विधानम् · Dasaratha’s Funeral Rites and Ayodhya’s Mourning

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठस्य वच श्शृत्वा भरतो धारणां गतः ।

प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि कारयामास धर्मवित् ॥३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.76.3

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhasya vacaḥ śrutvā bharato dhāraṇāṃ gataḥ |

pretakāryāṇi sarvāṇi kārayāmāsa dharmavit ||3||

Translation

वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भरतो धारणां गतः। प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि कारयामास धर्मवित्॥

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Word by Word

• वसिष्ठस्य: of Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• भरतः: Bharata
• भरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• धारणाम्: steadiness, composure
• धारणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• गतः: having attained, regained
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता) / Karta-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भरतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; 'attained')

• प्रेतकार्याणि: funeral duties
• प्रेतकार्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रेतस्य कार्याणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma (कर्म) / Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रेतकार्याणि)

• कारयामास: caused to be done, had performed
• कारयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + causative (णिच्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• धर्मवित्: knower of duty
• धर्मवित्: Karta (कर्ता) / Karta-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मं वेत्ति); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (भरतः)

Context

On hearing the words of Vasistha, dutiful Bharata regained his steadiness and engaged in the performance of the funeral rites.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma is practical: it includes ritual and social responsibilities. Bharata’s composure enables him to fulfill obligatory rites for the deceased king.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after being counseled, Bharata steadies himself and organizes the funeral observances for Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharma-jñāna joined with emotional restraint—Bharata acts responsibly despite intense sorrow.