Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 107, Shloka 10

पितृवाक्यपालनम्, गयाश्रुति-उपदेशः, भरतस्य राज्यग्रहण-निर्देशः

Rama’s Counsel on Vows, the Gaya Śruti, and Bharata’s Return to Rule

Devanagari script

ऋणान्मोचय राजानं मत्कृते भरत प्रभुम्।पितरं चापि धर्मज्ञं मातरं चाभिनन्दय।।2.107.10।।

Transliteration

ṛṇān mocaya rājānaṃ matkṛte bharata prabhum | pitaraṃ cāpi dharmajñaṃ mātaraṃ cābhinandaya ||

Translation

婆罗多啊，为了我，请使那有能之王解除其所负之债；并当敬奉通晓达摩的父亲，也当礼敬母亲。

Word by Word

• ṛṇāt: from the debt/obligation
• ṛṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mocaya: release, redeem
• mocaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mat-kṛte: for my sake
• mat-kṛte: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) usage: हेतौ/निमित्ते (for the sake of); components: mat + kṛte (locative-form used adverbially)

• bharata: O Bharata
• bharata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• prabhum: the lord, the capable one
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to rājānam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• pitaram: father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात/conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (निपात/particle), emphasis/addition

• dharmajñam: knower of righteousness
• dharmajñam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of pitaram
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: dharma + jña (knower of dharma)

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular

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

• abhinandaya: honour, greet
• abhinandaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-nand (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

Context

O Bharata, release for my sake the competent king from his debt (of vow) and honour the righteous father and the mother as well.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Daśaratha (implied as king/father)
• Kaikeyī (implied as mother)

FAQs

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

Dharma is fulfilling obligations without rancour: Rāma instructs Bharata to uphold duties to father and mother and to resolve the king’s binding pledge responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma responds to Bharata’s grief and anger, redirecting him toward constructive duties connected with the royal household.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s impartial righteousness—he insists on honouring parents and obligations even amid personal injustice.