Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 5

अयोध्याकाण्डे त्र्यशीति तमः सर्गः — Bharata’s Departure and Encampment on the Gaṅgā

Śṛṅgīberapura

Devanagari script

शतं सहस्राण्यश्वानां समारूढानि राघवम्।अन्वयुर्भरतं यान्तं सत्यसन्धं जितेन्द्रियम्।।2.83.5।।

Transliteration

śataṃ sahasrāṇy aśvānāṃ samārūḍhāni rāghavam |

anvayur bharataṃ yāntaṃ satyasaṃdhaṃ jitendriyam || 2.83.5 ||

Translation

Isang daang libong kabayo, bawat isa’y may sakay, ang sumunod kay Bharata sa kanyang paglalakbay—tapat sa kanyang panata at may pagpipigil sa mga pandama.

Word by Word

• śatam: a hundred
• śatam: Saṅkhyā (संख्या/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter numeral noun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; quantifier of sahasrāṇi

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural

• aśvānām: of horses
• aśvānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samārūḍhāni: mounted
• samārūḍhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-ruh (रुह् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Plural; agrees with sahasrāṇi; sense: 'mounted/occupied'

• rāghavam: the Rāghava (Bharata)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; apposition to bharatam

• anvayuḥ: followed
• anvayuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + i (इ धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• yāntam: going
• yāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yā (या धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• satyasandham: true to his word
• satyasandham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + sandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'true to his promise/truth-bound'

• jitendriyam: self-controlled
• jitendriyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (प्रातिपदिक/क्त from ji) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'one whose senses are conquered'

Context

One hundred thousand horses each mounted by a rider followed Bharata, one who had conquered his passion and adhered to truth.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Raghu lineage (Rāghava)
• horses

FAQs

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

Satya and self-mastery as foundations of dharma: Bharata’s reliability (satyasaṃdha) and restraint (jitendriya) qualify him for righteous leadership and moral persuasion.

What is the narrative situation?

As Bharata proceeds with a massive mounted force, the narrator highlights not only the army’s magnitude but Bharata’s inner virtues.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and self-control—Bharata’s moral authority is portrayed as equal to (or greater than) his royal power.