Valmiki Ramayana 2.26.33 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 33

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

भ्रातृपुत्रसमौ चापि द्रष्टव्यौ च विशेषतः।त्वया भरतशत्रुघ्नौ प्राणैः प्रियतरौ मम।।।।

Transliteration

bhrātṛ-putra-samau cāpi draṣṭavyau ca viśeṣataḥ |

tvayā bharata-śatrughnau prāṇaiḥ priyatarau mama ||

Translation

At higit sa lahat, pagmalasakitan mo sina Bharata at Śatrughna—turingin mo silang gaya ng kapatid at anak—sapagkat sa akin sila’y higit pang mahal kaysa mismong hininga ng buhay.

Word by Word

• भ्रातृपुत्रसमौ: like (your) brother and sons
• भ्रातृपुत्रसमौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-बहुवचनार्थे: (भ्रातृवत् पुत्रवत् च समौ) ‘equal to (your) brother and sons’ (sense: treat as)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also)

• द्रष्टव्यौ: should be looked after
• द्रष्टव्यौ: Karya (कार्य/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘to be looked after/seen’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (especially)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr (कर्ता/Doer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भरतशत्रुघ्नौ: Bharata and Shatrughna
• भरतशत्रुघ्नौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक) + शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (Bharata and Shatrughna)

• प्राणैः: than (my) life
• प्राणैः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपमान-तृतीया (comparison: ‘than life’)

• प्रियतरौ: dearer
• प्रियतरौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियतर (प्रातिपदिक; प्रिय + तरप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• मम: to me/my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

Kings are gratified if they are served with zeal and good conduct. If the contrary happens, they get provoked.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā
• Bharata
• Śatrughna

FAQs

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

Dharma extends kinship into responsibility: caring for brothers and younger family members preserves social order and familial harmony.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma anticipates his separation and instructs Sītā to maintain affectionate and respectful relations with his brothers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brotherly love and protectiveness: Rāma’s affection for Bharata and Śatrughna is portrayed as life-deep.