Valmiki Ramayana 2.46.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 7

तमसातीरवासः

Night on the Bank of the Tamasa and the Stratagem to Elude the Citizens

Devanagari script

भरतः खलु धर्मात्मा पितरं मातरं च मे।धर्मार्थकामसहितैर्वाक्यैर्वाश्वासयिष्यति।।2.46.7।।

Transliteration

bharataḥ khalu dharmātmā pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca me | dharmārthakāma-sahitair vākyair vāśvāsayiṣyati ||2.46.7||

Translation

ภรตะผู้มีจิตตั้งมั่นในธรรม ย่อมปลอบประโลมพระบิดาและพระมารดาของเราแน่ ด้วยถ้อยคำที่สอดคล้องกับธรรม อรรถ และกาม

Word by Word

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• khalu: indeed
• khalu: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: khalu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; nipāta (emphatic/assertive)

• dharmātmā: righteous
• dharmātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bharataḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); bahuvrīhi: dharmaḥ ātmā yasya saḥ (whose nature is dharma)

• pitaram: father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म/Object) of āśvāsayiṣyati
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म/Object) of āśvāsayiṣyati
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• me: my
• me: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• dharma-artha-kāma-sahitaiḥ: with words containing dharma, artha, and kāma
• dharma-artha-kāma-sahitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vākyaiḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); samāsa: dharma-artha-kāmaiḥ sahitāni (endowed with dharma, artha, kāma)

• vākyaiḥ: with words
• vākyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• vā: indeed/also
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; alternative/emphatic particle; here metrical filler with sense 'indeed/also'

• āśvāsayiṣyati: will console
• āśvāsayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√śvas (धातु) (causative: āśvāsayati)
• Form: Luṭ lakāra (Periphrastic future), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada; causative 'will console'

Context

When Rama and Lakshmana, perpetuaters of the Raghu race along with Sita were seated on the well-yoked chariot, Sumantra urged the horses to move.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Bharata
• Dasharatha
• Kausalya (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as wise, balanced counsel: Bharata’s righteousness expresses itself through speech that harmonizes moral duty (dharma), social well-being (artha), and appropriate human feeling (kāma).

What is the narrative situation?

Rama anticipates Bharata’s role in supporting and consoling the grieving parents after Rama’s departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s dharmic character—his capacity to uphold family stability through principled, considerate speech.