Shloka 12

भरतस्य धर्मप्रतिज्ञा तथा रामनिवर्तनयात्रा

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

Devanagari script

कथं दशरथाज्जातो भवेद्राज्यापहारकः।राज्यं चाहं च रामस्य धर्मं वक्तुमिहार्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ daśarathāj jāto bhaved rājya-apahārakaḥ |

rājyaṃ cāhaṃ ca rāmasya dharmaṃ vaktum ihārhasi ||

Translation

దశరథుని కుమారుడిగా పుట్టినవాడు రాజ్యాన్ని అపహరించేవాడిగా ఎలా అవుతాడు? రాజ్యమూ నేనూ రామునివే; కాబట్టి ఈ విషయంలో ధర్మసత్యాన్ని నీవు చెప్పవలసినది।

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Kriya-viseshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय; interrogative adverb

• दशरथात्: from Dasaratha
• दशरथात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; ablative singular

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'born'

• भवेत्: could become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'could be/should become'

• राज्यापहारकः: usurper of the kingdom
• राज्यापहारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य-अपहारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular; 'kingdom-usurper'

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular

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

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular pronoun

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

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular

• धर्मम्: the right course/duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular (object of वक्तुम्)

• वक्तुम्: to tell
• वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); 'to speak/tell'

• इह: here/in this matter
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रकरण-अव्यय; adverb 'here/in this matter'

• अर्हसि: you ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'you ought/are fit'

Context

How can any usurper of the kingdom be born of Dasaratha? Or, how would anyprogeny of Dasaratha become the usurper of the kingdom? I and the kingdom, both belong to Rama. You should tell the truth about this.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Satya aligned with dharma: Bharata insists that truth must be spoken even in politically charged moments, and that rightful inheritance cannot be overridden by opportunism.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata challenges any narrative that paints him as an usurper and urges Vasiṣṭha to affirm the dhārmic truth that Rāma is the rightful king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and self-effacement: Bharata refuses to be positioned as claimant and places himself under Rāma’s rightful authority.