Shloka 2.115.5
पादुकाभिषेकः — The Consecration of Rama’s Sandals and Bharata’s Trusteeship at Nandigrama
सुभृशं श्लाघनीयं च यदुक्तं भरत त्वया।वचनं भ्रातृवात्सल्यादनुरूपं तवैव तत्।।।।
sa vāla-vyajanaṃ chatraṃ dhārayāmāsa sa svayam | bharataḥ śāsanaṃ sarvaṃ pādukābhyāṃ nivedayan ||
He himself bore the royal parasol and the yak-tail fan; and Bharata submitted every directive of rule first to the pair of sandals.
O Bharata, the words you have uttered out of devotion to your brother which befityou alone are highly praiseworthy.
Service-oriented governance: authority is treated as stewardship under the rightful ruler, expressed through ritual submission of decisions.
In Nandigrāma, Bharata performs royal honors to Rama’s sandals and routes administration through them symbolically.
Sevā (humble service) and political humility—Bharata refuses to center kingship on himself.