Shloka 10

भरतस्य धर्मप्रतिज्ञा तथा रामनिवर्तनयात्रा

Bharata’s Vow of Dharma and the Expedition to Recall Rama

Devanagari script

सबाष्पकलया वाचा कलहंसस्वरो युवा।विललाप सभामध्ये जगर्हे च पुरोहितम्।।।।

Transliteration

sabāṣpakalayā vācā kalahaṃsasvaro yuvā |

vilalāpa sabhāmadhye jagarhe ca purohitam ||

Translation

కన్నీళ్లతో తడిసిన, కలహంసంలా మధుర స్వరమున్న యువ భరతుడు సభామధ్యంలో విలపించి, పురోహితుడు వశిష్ఠుని గర్హించాడు।

Word by Word

• सबाष्पकलया: with tear-choked (tone)
• सबाष्पकलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-बाष्प-कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular qualifying वाचा; 'with a (voice) having tears'

• वाचा: with speech/voice
• वाचा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• कलहंसस्वरः: swan-voiced
• कलहंसस्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलहंस-स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular qualifying युवा; 'having a voice like a swan'

• युवा: the young man
• युवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

• विललाप: lamented
• विललाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√लप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'lamented'

• सभामध्ये: in the assembly
• सभामध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा-मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in the middle of the assembly'

• जगर्हे: reproached
• जगर्हे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; 'reproached'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय; conjunction

• पुरोहितम्: the priest
• पुरोहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

Context

Young Bharata with the melodious voice of a swan, choked with tears, lamenting in the assembly, reproached the family priest Vasistha, saying:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Vasiṣṭha
• sabhā (royal assembly)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as moral accountability within public life: Bharata’s grief becomes a dhārmic protest against any legitimization of adharma (wrongful kingship), even if it might benefit him.

What is the narrative situation?

In the court assembly at Ayodhyā, after Rāma’s exile, Bharata speaks emotionally and confronts the priestly authority, pressing for a righteous resolution.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and moral courage: Bharata dares to challenge even revered authority (the purohita) when he believes dharma and truth are at stake.