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

भरतस्य प्रार्थना · रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Setting: Chitrakuta (Rama’s forest abode)Places named: AyodhyaBharata has arrived from Ayodhya to entreat Rama’s return

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

మహాత్ముడైన కాకుత్స్థ శ్రీరాముడు ఇలా పలికినప్పుడు కైకేయీపుత్రుడు భరతుడు మరల ధైర్యం కూడగట్టుకొని, అంజలి ఘటించి వినయంగా ఈ వాక్యములు పలికెను।

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandhi Notes

• ityuktaḥ = iti + uktaḥ
• prāñjalirvākyam = prāñjaliḥ + vākyam
• vākyamabravīt = vākyam + abravīt

Context

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

The teaching

Approach the righteous with humility; rightful order is sought through reverent speech, not force.

Duties in tension

• Bharata’s duty to uphold Rama’s rightful kingship vs. political reality of exile
• Rama’s vow/obedience to father’s word vs. compassion for Ayodhya’s crisis

Ethical theme

Rājadharma and kuladharma (dynastic duty)

How it resolves

Petition and moral persuasion (vinaya) without coercion

Devotion and practice

Cultivates humility (vinaya) and surrender before dharma; useful for japa/paṭha as a model of respectful petition.

Deity praised

Rama (as dharmic ideal)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Supplicatory, restrained, solemn

Themes

• Itihasa
• Maryada
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.