Valmiki Ramayana 2.107.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 107, Shloka 12

पितृवाक्यपालनम्, गयाश्रुति-उपदेशः, भरतस्य राज्यग्रहण-निर्देशः

Rama’s Counsel on Vows, the Gaya Śruti, and Bharata’s Return to Rule

Devanagari script

पुन्नाम्नो नरकाद् यस्मात् पितरं त्रायते सुतः।तस्मात् पुत्र इति प्रोक्तः पितॄन् यः पाति सर्वतः।।2.107.12।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.107.12

Transliteration

punnāmno narakād yasmāt pitaraṃ trāyate sutaḥ | tasmāt putra iti proktaḥ pitṝn yaḥ pāti sarvataḥ ||

Translation

เพราะบุตรย่อมช่วยบิดาให้พ้นจากนรกชื่อว่า ‘ปุต’ ฉะนั้นจึงเรียกว่า ‘ปุตร’ คือผู้คุ้มครองบรรพชนโดยรอบด้าน

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Word by Word

• punnāmnaḥ: from (the hell) named Put
• punnāmnaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: put (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ablative (5th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: put-nāmnaḥ = 'from (the hell) named Put' (nāmnaḥ = 'by name' in ablative)

• narakāt: from hell
• narakāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ablative (5th), Singular

• yasmāt: since/from which
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु) / Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napumsaka, Ablative (5th), Singular; relative pronoun

• pitaram: father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• trāyate: delivers, saves
• trāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: trā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• sutaḥ: the son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (तस्मात् = therefore)

• putraḥ: (he is) a son, 'putra'
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (in 'is called')
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• proktaḥ: is called/has been said
• proktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Nominative, Singular; passive sense 'has been said/called'

• pitr̄n: ancestors
• pitr̄n: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• pāti: protects
• pāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• sarvataḥ: in every way
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb), manner/extent

Context

Putra is so called as he delivers his father from a hell known as Put and protects the ancestors in all possible ways.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Putra (term/etymology)

FAQs

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

Dharma is filial responsibility: the son bears a sacred duty to protect and uplift the father and ancestors through righteous conduct and rites.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma cites a traditional explanation of the word putra to instruct Bharata on obligations toward ancestors.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sense of duty (kartavya) toward lineage—continuity of dharma across generations.