Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 16

पादुकाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Rama’s Sandals and Bharata’s Trusteeship at Nandigrama

Devanagari script

छत्रं धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ।आभ्यां राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्यां गुरोर्मम।।।।

Transliteration

chatraṃ dhārayata kṣipram āryapādāv imau matau | ābhyāṃ rājye sthito dharmaḥ pādukābhyāṃ guror mama ||

Translation

Sostengan en seguida el parasol real. Estos dos son tenidos por los venerables pies de mi hermano; por estas sandalias de mi venerado mayor, el dharma quedará firmemente establecido en el reino.

Word by Word

• chatram: parasol
• chatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhārayata: hold/bear (you all)
• dhārayata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• ārya-pādau: the noble feet
• ārya-pādau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; 'imau' इत्यनेन सह

• imau: these two
• imau: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; āryapādau इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• matau: are regarded (as)
• matau: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) 'mata' = considered/accepted; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; āryapādau इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ābhyām: by these two
• ābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (instrumental: by/with these two)

• rājye: in the kingdom
• rājye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sthitaḥ: is established
• sthitaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; dharmaḥ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dharmaḥ: righteous order/dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pādukābhyām: by the two sandals
• pādukābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• guroḥ: of the venerable one (my elder)
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (genitive)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Hold the royal paresol now. This is the accepted symbol of the exalted feet of my brother. These sandals shall establish righteousness in the kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• pādukā (Rama’s sandals)
• kingdom (Ayodhya, implied)

FAQs

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

Legitimate rule rests on dharma, not on mere possession of power; Bharata installs Rama’s symbolic presence so that governance remains aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata instructs the court to treat the sandals as Rama’s very feet and to proceed with royal protocol (like the parasol) around this symbol.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Loyalty to rightful sovereignty: Bharata actively prevents any perception that he is the true king.