Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 12

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

राज्यं गतजनं साधो पीतमण्डां सुरामिव।निरास्वाद्यतमं शून्यं भरतो नाभिपत्स्यते।।।।

Transliteration

rājyaṃ gatajanaṃ sādho pītamaṇḍāṃ surām iva | nirāsvādyatamaṃ śūnyaṃ bharato nābhipatsyate || 2.36.12 ||

Translation

Ô roi vertueux, Bharata n’acceptera pas un royaume déserté par son peuple, vide et sans saveur, tel un vin dont on a tiré jusqu’à l’essence.

Word by Word

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• gata-janam: abandoned by people
• gata-janam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; adjective of rājyam

• sādho: O virtuous one
• sādho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/प्रथमा) Singular

• pīta-maṇḍām: with its essence drained
• pīta-maṇḍām: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; agreeing with surām; 'whose essence has been drunk/removed'

• surām: wine/liquor
• surām: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• nir-āsvādya-tamam: most unenjoyable
• nir-āsvādya-tamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + āsvādya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; superlative (तमप्) of āsvādya with privative nir-; adjective of rājyam

• śūnyam: empty
• śūnyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; adjective of rājyam

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• abhipatsyate: will obtain/accept
• abhipatsyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-pad (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्) / future; Ātmanepada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person) Singular

Context

O virtuous king! Bharata will not take charge of the kingdom abandoned by men, drained of wealth and incapable of being enjoyed, like wine with its essence evaporated.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Bharata

FAQs

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

It implies that kingship without popular support and prosperity is ethically and practically hollow; a ruler should not seek a ‘vacant’ sovereignty lacking legitimacy and welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī argues that if Rāma is removed and the realm destabilized, Bharata will not consent to rule such a depleted kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s presumed integrity and refusal to enjoy an unrighteous or joyless gain—anticipating his later conduct in the epic.