Valmiki Ramayana 2.78.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78, Shloka 1

अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः — Śatrughna’s Fury and Bharata’s Restraint

Mantharā Episode

Devanagari script

अथ यात्रां समीहन्तं शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणानुजः।भरतं शोकसन्तप्तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.78.1

Transliteration

atha yātrāṃ samīhantaṃ śatrughno lakṣmaṇānujaḥ | bharataṃ śokasantaptam idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

अथ यात्रां समीहन्तं शोकसन्तप्तं भरतं प्रति, लक्ष्मणानुजः शत्रुघ्न इदं वचनम् अब्रवीत्।

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Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (sequence marker)

• यात्राम्: journey
• यात्राम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समीहन्तम्: desiring
• समीहन्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+√ईह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शत्रुघ्नः: Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मणानुजः: Lakshmana's younger brother
• लक्ष्मणानुजः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Apposition/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लक्ष्मणस्य अनुजः)

• भरतम्: Bharata
• भरतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शोकसन्तप्तम्: afflicted by grief
• शोकसन्तप्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तप्त (कृदन्त; सम्+√तप्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शोकेन सन्तप्तः)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

As the griefstricken Bharata was intending to proceed to Rama, Lakshmana's younger brother Satrughna said to him:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma (implied destination)

FAQs

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

Dharma as wise counsel and solidarity: in crisis, righteous action is supported by brothers and advisers who help convert grief into purposeful duty.

What is the narrative situation?

A transition into Sarga 78: Bharata plans to go to Rāma, and Śatrughna begins to address him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fraternal support—Śatrughna’s readiness to advise and stand with Bharata in a moment of upheaval.