Ayodhya Kanda Sarga 58 Shloka 21 - Valmiki Ramayana | English | Vedapath

Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 21

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

भरतः कुशलं वाच्यो वाच्यो मद्वचनेन च।सर्वास्वेव यथान्यायं वृत्तिं वर्तस्व मातृषु।।।।

Transliteration

bharataḥ kuśalaṃ vācyo vācyo madvacanena ca | sarvāsv eva yathānyāyaṃ vṛttiṃ vartasva mātṛṣu ||

Translation

Convey my well-being to Bharata; and also tell him, in my name, that he should conduct himself with due fairness toward all our mothers.

Word by Word

bharataḥBharata

kuśalamwelfare

vācyaḥis to be told (greeted)

vācyaḥis to be told

mad-vacanenaby my word/in my name

caand

sarvāsuamong all

evaindeed

yathā-nyāyamproperly/according to rule

vṛttimconduct

vartasvaconduct yourself

mātṛṣuamong the mothers

Context

'Tell Bharata of my welfare and tell him on my behalf that he should honour all our mothers equally.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Bharata

Sumantra

the queens (Rāma’s mothers/stepmothers)

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

Impartial, just conduct within the family—honoring all mothers/queens without favoritism and maintaining fairness as a moral duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma, preparing for exile, sends instructions to Bharata through Sumantra, emphasizing proper conduct at home in his absence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to maryādā (ethical propriety) and social harmony through fairness and restraint.