Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 36

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

श्रुता नो यादृशाः पूर्वं नृपतीनां विनाशने।।2.71.36।।

आकारांस्तानहं सर्वानिहपश्यामि सारथे।

Transliteration

śrutā no yādṛśāḥ pūrvaṃ nṛpatīnāṃ vināśane |

ākārāṃs tān ahaṃ sarvān iha paśyāmi sārathe || 2.71.36 ||

Translation

御者啊，我如今在此看见了我们往昔所听闻的那些征兆——预示君王殒逝的诸般形相。

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Word by Word

• श्रुताः: have been heard
• श्रुताः: Kriya (क्रिया/participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘heard’

• नः: by us/for us
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) बहुवचन; ‘of us/for us’

• यादृशाः: such as
• यादृशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; आकारान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• नृपतीनाम्: of kings
• नृपतीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• विनाशने: in destruction
• विनाशने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in (the time of) destruction’

• आकारान्: signs
• आकारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; आकारान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इह: here/now
• इह: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सारथे: O charioteer
• सारथे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

O charioteer! I now see the very for ebodings I had heard in the past in connection with the death of kings.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Aśvapati
• nṛpati (king)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the dharmic gravity of kingship: the king’s fate is tied to public order, and signs of disruption are taken as warnings demanding responsible response.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata interprets the unsettling atmosphere as traditional portents associated with royal death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and discernment—he reads events carefully and anticipates consequences.