Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 104, Shloka 11

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य धर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Dharma-Reasoning

Devanagari script

भवत्वविधवा भूमि स्समग्रा पतिना त्वया।शशिना विमलेनेव शारदी रजनी यथा।।।।

Transliteration

bhavatv avidhavā bhūmiḥ samagrā patinā tvayā |

śaśinā vimaleneva śāradī rajanī yathā ||2.104.11||

Translation

Nguyện cho toàn cõi đất này thôi cảnh góa bụa, vì có ngài làm phu quân, làm chúa tể—như đêm thu rạng ngời bởi vầng trăng thanh khiết.

Word by Word

• भवतु: let it be
• भवतु: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अविधवा: not widowed
• अविधवा: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विधवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (negation)

• भूमिः: the earth/land
• भूमिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• समग्रा: entire, whole
• समग्रा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• पतिना: with a lord/husband
• पतिना: करण (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शशिना: by the moon
• शशिना: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• विमलेन: pure, spotless
• विमलेन: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of śaśinā)

• इव: like
• इव: उपमा
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• शारदी: autumnal
• शारदी: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of rajanī)

• रजनी: night
• रजनी: उपमान (Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• यथा: as
• यथा: उपमा
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/प्रकार-अव्यय (as, just as)

Context

Like an autumnal night with the immaculate Moon, let this entire earth cease to be a widow by securing you as her lord.

Characters & Entities

• earth (bhūmi)
• Bharata
• moon (śaśin)

FAQs

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

A king is the earth’s protector; restoring rightful rule is framed as removing disorder and vulnerability—an image of rājadharma as guardianship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma urges Bharata to take up sovereignty, using a simile that equates a kingless earth with widowhood and proper rule with moonlit clarity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s suitability to protect the realm, and Rāma’s prioritizing stability and dharma over personal attachment.