Valmiki Ramayana 2.79.17 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 17

भरतस्य राज्यत्यागः तथा रामानयनप्रतिज्ञा

Bharata Rejects Kingship and Vows to Bring Rama Back

Devanagari script

ऊचुस्ते वचनमिदं निशम्य हृष्टा स्सामात्या स्सपरिषदो वियातशोकाः।पन्थानं नरवर भक्तिमान् जनश्च व्यादिष्टस्तव वचनाच्च शिल्पिवर्गः।।2.79.17।

Transliteration

ūcus te vacanam idaṃ niśamya hṛṣṭāḥ sāmātyāḥ sapariṣadaḥ viyātaśokāḥ | panthānaṃ naravara bhaktimān janaś ca vyādiṣṭas tava vacanāc ca śilpivargaḥ ||2.79.17||

Translation

تمہارے کلمات سن کر وزیرانِ دربار اور سبھا کے اراکین—غم سے آزاد ہو کر—خوشی سے بول اٹھے: “اے مردوں میں برتر! آپ کے حکم سے بھکتِ خلق اور کاریگروں کے گروہ کو راستہ تیار کرنے کے لیے مقرر کر دیا گیا ہے۔”

Word by Word

• ūcuḥ: they said/uttered
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) to vacanam

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participial)

• hṛṣṭāḥ: delighted
• hṛṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √hṛṣ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally

• sāmātyāḥ: with ministers
• sāmātyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास: 'सह अमात्यैः' = with ministers

• sapariṣadaḥ: with the council
• sapariṣadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-pariṣad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास: 'सह परिषदः' = with the council/assembly

• viyātaśokāḥ: freed from grief
• viyātaśokāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-yāta-śoka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुष: 'वियातः शोकः येषाम्' (grief gone)

• panthānam: the road/way
• panthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: panthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• naravara: O best of men
• naravara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'नराणां वरः'

• bhaktimān: devoted
• bhaktimān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaktimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• janaḥ: the people/person
• janaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vyādiṣṭaḥ: was instructed/ordered
• vyādiṣṭaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ā-diś (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-भावः (instructed/ordered)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vacanāt: from (your) word/order
• vacanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान (source)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śilpivargaḥ: the group of artisans
• śilpivargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilpin-varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'शिल्पिनां वर्गः'

Context

It has been the tradition in our race that the eldest son alone should always inherit the kingdom. It does not behove intelligent people like you to tell me like this.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Ministers (Amātyas)

FAQs

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

Dharma in practice is coordinated service: righteous intent must be supported by organized action—ministers, citizens, and artisans working together for a just purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

After being reassured by Bharata’s stance, the ministers and council report that preparations (road-making) have been ordered in accordance with his instructions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent governance and devotion: the administration and public respond promptly and loyally to dharmic leadership.