Valmiki Ramayana 2.106.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 106, Shloka 20

भरतवाक्यं—रामस्य पुनरायोध्यागमननिषेधः

Bharata’s Plea and Rama’s Refusal to Return

Devanagari script

कश्च प्रत्यक्षमुत्सृज्य संशयस्थ मलक्षणम्।आयतिस्थं चरे द्धर्मं क्षत्रबन्दुरनिश्चितम्।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.106.20

Transliteration

kaś ca pratyakṣam utsṛjya saṁśayastham alakṣaṇam |

āyatisthaṁ cared dharmaṁ kṣatrabandhur aniścitam ||

Translation

แล้วผู้ใดเล่า เมื่อเป็นกษัตริย์นักรบ จะละทิ้งหน้าที่อันประจักษ์ตรงหน้า แล้วไปประพฤติ “ธรรม” อันไม่แน่นอน เต็มไปด้วยความสงสัยและลางร้าย ซึ่งผลจะไปปรากฏในกาลไกล?

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (interrogative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अन्वय (connective)

• प्रत्यक्षम्: the evident/visible (duty)
• प्रत्यक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• उत्सृज्य: having abandoned
• उत्सृज्य: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्+सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having abandoned’

• संशयस्थम्: standing in doubt
• संशयस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशय + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संशये स्थितम्), द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; qualifying धर्मम्

• अलक्षणम्: inauspicious/without good marks
• अलक्षणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; qualifying धर्मम्

• आयतिस्थम्: lying in the distant future
• आयतिस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयति + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आयतौ/भविष्यति स्थितम्), द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; qualifying धर्मम्

• चरेत्: would practice/follow
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्मम्: dharma/duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• क्षत्रबन्धुः: a so-called kshatriya
• क्षत्रबन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षत्रस्य बन्धुः; pejorative ‘mere kshatriya-kin’), प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग

• अनिश्चितम्: uncertain
• अनिश्चितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनि+चित (प्रातिपदिक; from नि+चित् धातु)
• Form: निश्चि-धातुजन्य क्त (PPP) with नञ्-प्रत्यय; द्वितीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; qualifying धर्मम्

Context

Will any kshatriya, setting aside his first duty, follow an uncertain course of piety which is contrary to his dharma and whose impact may be felt in a remote future.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• kṣatriya

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as one’s immediate, role-based obligation (svadharma), not a speculative or inappropriate path that neglects present responsibilities.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata challenges the idea that Rama should avoid kingship; he argues that forsaking manifest royal duty for uncertain alternatives is improper for a kṣatriya.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s moral clarity and insistence on svadharma—he prioritizes responsible governance over ambiguous ideals.