Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 37, Shloka 27

अयोध्याकाण्डे सर्गः ३७ — चीरधारणं, सीतासंकल्पः, वसिष्ठोपदेशः

Bark-Robe Episode and Vasistha’s Admonition

Devanagari script

भरतश्च सशत्रुघ्नश्चीरवासा वनेचरः।वने वसन्तं काकुत्स्थ मनुवत्स्यति पूर्वजम्।।2.37.27।।

Transliteration

bharataśca saśatrughnaścīravāsā vanecaraḥ |

vane vasantaṃ kākutstham anuvatsyati pūrvajam ||

Translation

భరతుడు కూడా శత్రుఘ్నునితో కలిసి, వల్కలవస్త్రాలు ధరించి వనచరుడై, వనంలో నివసిస్తున్న కాకుత్స్థ వంశజుడైన తన అన్న రాముని అనుసరిస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (and)

• sa-śatrughnaḥ: with Shatrughna
• sa-śatrughnaḥ: Sahakāraka (associate with Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; sa- = 'together with'

• cīra-vāsā: wearing bark-garments
• cīra-vāsā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of Bharata)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas/vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; 'one whose clothing is bark'

• vane-caraḥ: forest-roaming
• vane-caraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of Bharata)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; 'moving in the forest'

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana

• vasantam: dwelling (there)
• vasantam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-participle (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana; qualifies pūrvajam

• kākutstha: O Kakutstha (Rama)
• kākutstha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• manuvatsyati: will follow
• manuvatsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; anu-vṛt = follow/serve

• pūrvajam: the elder brother
• pūrvajam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative), Ekavacana

Context

Wandering in the forest and wearing bark, Satrughna and Bharata will live in the company of their elder brother (Rama) in the jungle.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Shatrughna
• Rama

FAQs

Why does the speaker predict Bharata will wear bark robes?

Vasistha asserts that Bharata, bound by Dharma and brotherly love, will reject the kingdom obtained through Kaikeyi's intrigue and instead choose the ascetic life of his elder brother, Rama.

What is the significance of referring to Rama as 'Kakutstham' in this context?

Referring to Rama as the scion of Kakutstha emphasizes the noble lineage of the Ikshvaku dynasty, suggesting that Bharata will uphold the family's honor (Dharma) by following the rightful heir rather than usurping the throne.