Valmiki Ramayana 2.82.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 82, Shloka 5

भरतस्य धर्मप्रतिज्ञा तथा रामनिवर्तनयात्रा

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

Spoken by Vasistha to BharataSetting: अयोध्या (सभा)Places named: स्वर्ग

Devanagari script

तात राजा दशरथ स्स्वर्गतो धर्ममाचरन् ।

धनधान्यवतीं स्फीतां प्रदाय पृथिवीं तव ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.82.5

Transliteration

tāta rājā daśarathaḥ svargato dharmam ācaran |

dhana-dhānya-vatīṃ sphītāṃ pradāya pṛthivīṃ tava ||5||

Translation

తాతా, రాజు దశరథుడు ధర్మాన్ని ఆచరిస్తూ స్వర్గలోకానికి వెళ్లిపోయాడు; ధనధాన్యాలతో సమృద్ధిగా ఉన్న ఈ విశాల రాజ్యాన్ని నీకు అప్పగించి ఆయన పరమగతించాడు।

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Word by Word

• तात: dear child
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; address (vocative singular)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• राजा: king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular (apposition to राजा)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• स्वर्गतः: having gone to heaven
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally: 'gone to heaven'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• धर्मम्: righteousness/duty
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आचरन्: practising
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारे शतृ (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्राय), परस्मैपद; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; present participle: 'practising/following'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• धनधान्यवतीम्: abounding in wealth and grain
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन-धान्य-वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular qualifying पृथिवीम्; 'possessing wealth and grain'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvandva

• स्फीताम्: prosperous/vast
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular qualifying पृथिवीम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• प्रदाय: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having given'
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• पृथिवीम्: the kingdom/earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• तव: to you/your
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular pronoun
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

Sandhi Notes

• दशरथ स्स्वर्गतो → दशरथः स्वर्गतः (ः + स्)
• धर्ममाचरन् → धर्मम् आचरन् (म् + आ)
• धनधान्यवतीं स्फीतां → unchanged
• पृथिवीं तव → unchanged

Context

O dear child! following the righteous path king Dasaratha conferred on you this vast kingdom abounding in wealth and grains before attaining heaven.

The teaching

धर्माचरणं परलोक-गति-हेतु; जीविते परिवर्तन-क्षणे अपि कर्तव्य-स्वीकारः अनिवार्यः।

Duties in tension

• पितृशोक vs राज्य-धारण (mourning vs assuming governance)
• भ्रातृभक्ति/राम-निष्ठा vs राजसिंहासन-स्वीकार (loyalty to Rama vs accepting throne)

Ethical theme

पितृधर्म/राजधर्म

How it resolves

धर्मोपदेश-प्रेरित कर्तव्यग्रहण (counsel toward duty while acknowledging grief)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Bereaved, grave, dutiful

Themes

• Dharma
• Kingship succession
• Itihasa
• Ethics of inheritance

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Bharata
• Daśaratha
• Kingdom (pṛthivī)

FAQs

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

Dharma frames political authority as a trust: the kingdom is ‘entrusted’ after a life of righteousness, implying rule must continue as moral stewardship.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha informs Bharata of Daśaratha’s passing and speaks of the transfer of royal responsibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s dharmācaraṇa (practice of righteousness) as the foundation for legitimate kingship and succession.