Shloka 1.71.14

जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम् (Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila)

Devanagari script

मां तु ज्येष्ठं पिता राज्ये सोऽभिषिच्य नराधिप:।कुशध्वजं समावेश्य भारं मयि वनं गत:।।।।

Transliteration

māṃ tu jyeṣṭhaṃ pitā rājye so ’bhiṣicya narādhipaḥ |

kuśadhvajaṃ samāveśya bhāraṃ mayi vanaṃ gataḥ ||

Translation

My father, the king, anointed me—the elder—over the kingdom; entrusting Kuśadhvaja and the burden of responsibility to me, he departed for the forest.

Context

My father king Hrasvaroma crowned me king, entrusted Kusadhwaja to my care and retired to the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Kuśadhvaja
• Hrasvaromā
• Forest (vana)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma and vānaprastha-dharma appear together: the king hands over rule to the qualified heir and withdraws, while the heir accepts responsibility for both kingdom and kin.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka explains how he was crowned and how his father retired to the forest after entrusting him with governance and with Kuśadhvaja’s care.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible acceptance of duty (bhāra) and guardianship toward one’s younger brother.