Valmiki Ramayana 2.77.18: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 77, Shloka 18

और्ध्वदैहिकक्रिया-शोकविलापः

Obsequies for Daśaratha and the Brothers’ Lament

Devanagari script

हीनो भ्रात्रा च पित्रा च शून्यामिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम्।।।।अयोध्यां न प्रवेक्ष्यामि प्रवेक्ष्यामि तपोवनम्।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.77.18

Transliteration

hīno bhrātrā ca pitrā ca śūnyām ikṣvākupālitām | ayodhyāṃ na pravekṣyāmi pravekṣyāmi tapovanam ||

Translation

भ्रात्रा च पित्रा च हीनः, इक्ष्वाकुपालिताम् अयोध्यां शून्याम् न प्रवेक्ष्यामि; तपोवनमेव प्रवेक्ष्यामि।।

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Word by Word

• hīnaḥ: deprived (of)
• hīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of implicit 'aham'

• bhrātrā: from (my) brother
• bhrātrā: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (भ्रातृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; separation sense with hīnaḥ (instrumental of deprivation)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• pitrā: from (my) father
• pitrā: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; deprivation sense

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• śūnyām: empty
• śūnyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ayodhyām

• ikṣvāku-pālitām: ruled by the Ikṣvākus
• ikṣvāku-pālitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ikṣvāku + pālita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ikṣvākubhiḥ pālitā (ruled/protected by Ikṣvākus); kta participle used adjectivally

• ayodhyām: Ayodhyā
• ayodhyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (अयोध्या) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• pravekṣyāmi: I will enter
• pravekṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √viś (विश्) (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• pravekṣyāmi: I will enter
• pravekṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √viś (विश्) (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (Future), Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; repetition for resolve

• tapo-vanam: the forest of austerities
• tapo-vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: tapasaḥ vanam (grove/forest of austerity)

Context

Having heard the lamentataions of both the brothers and reflecting the calamity befallen on them, the attendants felt extremely afflicted once again.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Tapovana (ascetic grove)

FAQs

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

It reflects the idea that rulership must be legitimate and dharmic; Bharata rejects enjoying a kingdom in the absence of rightful order.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata declares he will not return to Ayodhyā without Rāma and Daśaratha, and instead speaks of going to an ascetic forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and self-denial—Bharata refuses power that would be tainted by adharma or grief-driven opportunism.