Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 105, Shloka 5

भरतस्य प्रार्थना—रामस्य कालधर्मोपदेशः

Bharata’s Petition and Rama’s Instruction on Time and Mortality

Devanagari script

महतेवाम्बुवेगेन भिन्नस्सेतुर्जलागमे।दुरावारं त्वदन्येन राज्यखण्डमिदं महत्।।2.105.5।।

Transliteration

mahatā ivāmbuvegena bhinnaḥ setur jalāgame |

durāvāraṃ tvad-anyena rājyakhaṇḍam idaṃ mahat ||2.105.5||

Translation

Như con đê bị dòng nước lớn mùa mưa phá vỡ, cũng vậy, vương quốc rộng lớn này nếu không có ngài thì không ai có thể ngăn giữ nổi.

Word by Word

• महता: by great
• महता: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘अम्बुवेगेन’) ‘by great (force)’

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Simile-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानसूचक (simile particle) ‘like/as’

• अम्बुवेगेन: by the rush of waters
• अम्बुवेगेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु + वेग (प्रातिपदिक); ‘अम्बुवेग’
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘अम्बूनां वेगः’ = rush of waters

• भिन्नः: broken
• भिन्नः: Karta (कर्ता; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भिद् (धातु) + क्त; ‘भिन्न’
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘सेतुः’) ‘broken/burst’

• सेतुः: a dyke/embankment
• सेतुः: Upamana (उपमान; simile base)
• Type: Noun
• Root: setu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• जलागमे: in the rainy season
• जलागमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल + आगम (प्रातिपदिक); ‘जलागम’
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘जलस्य आगमः’ = coming of waters, rainy season

• दुरावारम्: hard to sustain/contain
• दुरावारम्: Karma (कर्म; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur- + āvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘राज्यखण्डम्’) ‘hard to restrain/insupportable’

• त्वदन्येन: by anyone other than you
• त्वदन्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्य (प्रातिपदिक); ‘त्वदन्य’
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘त्वत्तः अन्यः’ = other than you; करण-निर्देश (by anyone other than you)

• राज्यखण्डम्: this realm/kingdom-domain
• राज्यखण्डम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; implied ‘अस्ति’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक); ‘राज्यखण्ड’
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘राज्यस्य खण्डः’ = portion/whole realm (kingdom-domain)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• महत्: vast
• महत्: Karta (कर्ता; as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (vast/great)

Context

Like a dyke bursts under pressure by the great surge of waters during the rainy season, this vast kingdom cannot be sustained by any one except yourself.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāma
• Ayodhyā (implied by 'realm/kingdom')

FAQs

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

It highlights rāja-dharma as responsibility for stability: the rightful ruler’s presence is viewed as essential to restrain disorder and protect the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata argues that Ayodhyā’s kingdom cannot be sustained without Rāma, urging him to take up kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s concern for the common good—placing the welfare of the kingdom above personal claim.