Valmiki Ramayana 2.99.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 99, Shloka 5

चित्रकूटप्राप्तिः · Bharata Reaches Chitrakuta and Beholds Rama

Setting: Before the hut (śālā) at Rama’s dwellingArrival at the threshold; reading the immediate surroundings

Devanagari script

शालायास्त्वग्रत स्तस्या ददर्श भरत स्तदा ।

काष्ठानि चावभग्नानि पुष्पाण्युपचितानि च ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.99.5

Transliteration

śālāyās tv agrataḥ tasyā dadarśa bharatas tadā |

kāṣṭhāni cāvabhagnāni puṣpāṇy upacitāni ca ||5||

Translation

แล้วในกาลนั้น เบื้องหน้ากระท่อมนั้น ภารตะได้เห็นท่อนไม้ที่หักพัง และดอกไม้ที่เก็บรวบรวมไว้ด้วย

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Word by Word

• śālāyāḥ: of the hut
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• tu: and/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle
• Role: Vākyasambandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)

• agrataḥ: in front
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya; adverb ‘in front’
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)

• tasyāḥ: of that (hut)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; referring to śālā
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• dadarśa: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ perfect, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tadā: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• kāṣṭhāni: pieces of wood, logs
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction
• Role: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)

• avabhagnāni: broken, shattered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-bhagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta PPP from √bhaj/bhañj with ava-; Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying kāṣṭhāni
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• puṣpāṇi: flowers
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• upacitāni: gathered, heaped (plucked)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-ci (धातु)
• Form: Kta PPP from √ci with upa-; Napuṃsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying puṣpāṇi
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction
• Role: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चयद्योतक)

Sandhi Notes

• śālāyāstvagrataḥ → śālāyāḥ tu agrataḥ
• cāvabhagnāni → ca avabhagnāni
• puṣpāṇyupacitāni → puṣpāṇi upacitāni

Context

In front of that hut Bharata beheld shattered logs of wood and also flowers plucked.

The teaching

Small traces—flowers gathered, wood broken—reveal disciplined living; dharma is practiced in details.

Ethical theme

Ācāra (conduct)

For your practice

Mindfulness of offerings: flowers gathered suggest daily worship even in hardship; encourages nitya-pūjā attitude.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Observant, tender, foreboding

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Austerity
• Forest life

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• śālā (hut)
• puṣpa (flowers)

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed through simplicity: the humble materials and offerings (wood, gathered flowers) reflect disciplined living and reverence rather than luxury.

What is the narrative situation?

At the hermitage-front, Bharata notices physical traces of ascetic routine—collected flowers and broken wood.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentiveness and sensitivity—Bharata reads the environment carefully, preparing his mind for a respectful meeting.