Valmiki Ramayana 2.72.53: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 53

भरतस्य मातृसदनगमनं कैकेय्या दारुणवृत्तान्तकथनं च

Bharata in Kaikeyi’s apartments: revelation of Daśaratha’s death and Rāma’s exile

Spoken by Kaikeyi to BharataSetting: Ayodhyā (palace apartments)

Devanagari script

मा शोकं मा च सन्तापं धैर्यमाश्रय पुत्रक ।

त्वदधीना हि नगरी राज्यं चैतदनामयम् ॥५३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.72.53

Transliteration

mā śokaṁ mā ca santāpaṁ dhairyam āśraya putraka |

tvadadhīnā hi nagarī rājyaṁ caitad anāmayam ||53||

Translation

อย่าโศกา อย่าร้อนรุ่มเลย ลูกเอ๋ย; จงอาศัยความมั่นคงแห่งใจเถิด เพราะนครนี้และราชอาณาจักรอันปราศจากโรคภัยและอุปสรรคนี้ อยู่ในอำนาจของเจ้าแล้ว

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Word by Word

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात; लोट्/विधिलिङ्-सम्बन्धे (do not)
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• शोकम्: grief
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• सन्तापम्: distress/remorse
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• आश्रय: take refuge in / adopt
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• पुत्रक: dear son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; स्नेहसूचक (dear son)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• त्वत्-अधीना: under your control
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: त्वदधीन (dependent on you); विशेषणम् (qualifies नगरी)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/कारण (indeed/for)
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• नगरी: the city
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात
• Role: Nipata (निपात)

• एतत्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• अनामयम्: free from trouble
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies एतत्/राज्यम्)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• धैर्यमाश्रय = धैर्यम् + आश्रय
• त्वदधीना = त्वद् + अधीना
• चैतत् = च + एतत्
• एतदनामयम् = एतत् + अनामयम्

Context

My son, give up sorrow and agony and take recourse to courage. This city as well as the kingdom, free from all obstacles, is under your control.

The teaching

Steadfastness is urged as a ruler’s virtue, yet true dharma requires that steadiness be joined with moral discernment.

Duties in tension

• Mourning father vs immediate political duty
• Obedience to mother vs moral resistance to unjust succession

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / personal virtue under crisis

For your practice

Practice of dhairya (steadiness) amid grief; useful for contemplation on equanimity before action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Consoling, insistent, heavy-hearted

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Kingship
• Political Ethics
• Emotional Counsel

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Bharata
• Ayodhyā (implied by 'nagarī')

FAQs

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

Steadiness (dhairya) is presented as necessary for rule; yet the verse also invites scrutiny of legitimacy—true dharma-based authority must be righteous in origin, not merely in possession.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī attempts to console and persuade Bharata, asserting that the city and kingdom are now his to command.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhairya (steadfast courage) as a royal quality—though Bharata will redirect this virtue toward restoring dharma rather than enjoying power.