Valmiki Ramayana 2.69.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 5
भरतस्य दुःस्वप्नदर्शनम् · Bharata’s Ominous Dream
Setting: Ayodhyā (palace/assembly context)
स तैर्महात्मा भरतस्सखिभिः प्रियवादिभिः ।
गोष्ठीहास्यानि कुर्वद्भिर्न प्राहृष्यत राघवः ॥५॥
sa tair mahātmā bharatas sakhibhiḥ priyavādibhiḥ |
goṣṭhīhāsyāni kurvadbhir na prāhṛṣyata rāghavaḥ ||5||
لیکن وہ مہاتما بھرت—رگھو ونش کا چراغ—شیریں گفتار سکھاؤں کی دوستی بھری ہنسی مذاق اور مجلس کی خوش طبعی سے بھی شادمان نہ ہوا۔
Sandhi Notes
- तैर्महात्मा = तैः + महात्मा (visarga sandhi)
- भरतस्सखिभिः = भरतः + सखिभिः (visarga→स्)
The magnanimous Bharata born in the race of Raghus, was not delighted by the conversations and jokes and soothing words of his friends.
The teaching
Some sorrows cannot be laughed away; when dharma and affection are wounded, one must face the cause directly rather than seek mere diversion.
Duties in tension
- Personal grief and emotional collapse
- Kṣatriya steadiness and readiness for duty
- Loyalty to family/lineage amid impending political crisis
- Ethical theme
- Dharma-saṅkaṭa, rāja-dharma (incipient)
- How it resolves
- Deferred (moves toward articulation of cause and ethical decision)
For your practice
Encourages honest acknowledgment of grief; supports practices of satya (truthfulness) and inward reflection before action.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Unconsoled, grave, inward
Themes
- Dharma
- Grief
- Inner truth (satya)
- Ethics
- Itihasa
External pleasures cannot touch the core sorrow rooted in attachment and dharma-crisis; points toward the need for inner viveka and acceptance.
Theme akin to ‘na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyaḥ’—outer enjoyments do not satisfy the afflicted heart; true settling is inward.
- Bharata and Raghu lineage
- Scion of Raghu; burden of lineage and duty implied (solemn)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.69.5-6 (friend questions; Bharata explains cause)
Mahābhārata: grief scenes where jest and entertainment fail to move the bereaved (motif parallel)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s sustained sorrow and refusal of comfort leading to inquiry and confession (narrative linkage)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Grieving
Mandra-sthāyi emphasis, karuṇa prayoga
FAQs
Dharma includes integrity toward one’s inner state: when grief is rooted in serious moral and familial concerns, superficial diversion cannot replace truthful reflection and responsible action.
Despite friends trying to amuse him with conversation and jokes, Bharata remains unable to feel happiness.
Depth of feeling and sincerity—Bharata’s mind does not accept easy entertainment when a grave concern weighs on him.
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