Shloka 2.112.23
पादुकाप्रदानम् (The Gift of the Sandals and Delegated Kingship)
स पादुके सम्प्रणम्य रामं वचनमब्रवीत्चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि जटाचीरधरो ह्याहम्।।2.112.23।।फलमूलाशनो वीर भवेयं रघुनन्दन।तवाऽगमनमाकाङ्क्षान्वसन्वै नगराद्बहिः।।2.112.24।।तव पादुकयोर्न्यस्तराज्यतन्त्रः परन्तप।
sa pāduke sampraṇamya rāmaṃ vacanam abravīt |
caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi jaṭācīradharo hy aham || 2.112.23 ||
phalamūlāśano vīra bhaveyaṃ raghunandana |
tavāgamanam ākāṅkṣan vasan vai nagarād bahiḥ || 2.112.24 ||
tava pādukayor nyasta-rājyatantraḥ parantapa |
Bowing down to the sacred sandals, Bharata spoke to Rama: “For fourteen years, O hero, O joy of the Raghu line, I shall wear matted locks and garments of bark, living on fruits and roots. Entrusting the rule of the kingdom to your sandals, O scorcher of foes, I shall dwell outside the city, awaiting your return.”
Bharata bowed before the sandals and said to Rama, 'O tormentorr of enemies, O hero, wearing matted locks and bark garments, living on fruits and roots, placing the responsibility of ruling the kingdom on your sandals and looking forward to your arrival, I shall reside outside the city for fourteen years.'
Trusteeship in power: Bharata refuses kingship as possession and treats rule as a sacred duty carried out on Rama’s behalf, grounded in truth and rightful succession.
After receiving the sandals, Bharata vows an ascetic life mirroring exile and declares he will govern only through the symbol of Rama’s authority while living outside the capital.
Bharata’s renunciation and fidelity (niṣkāma-sevā): he embraces hardship to uphold Rama’s satya and the kingdom’s dharma.