Shloka 23

श्रुतेन बालः स्थानेन जन्मना भवतो ह्यहम्।स कथं पालयिष्यामि भूमिं भवति तिष्ठति।।।।

śrutena bālaḥ sthānena janmanā bhavato hy aham |

sa kathaṁ pālayiṣyāmi bhūmiṁ bhavati tiṣṭhati ||

विद्या में, पद में और जन्म से भी मैं आपसे हीन हूँ। आप यहाँ उपस्थित रहते हुए मैं पृथ्वी का पालन कैसे कर सकूँगा?

श्रुतेनin learning/knowledge
श्रुतेन:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; from श्रु धातु)
Formतृतीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (instrumental: ‘by learning/knowledge’)
बालःyoung/inexperienced
बालः:
Kriya (क्रिया/predicative complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootबाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; predicative about अहम्
स्थानेनin position/status
स्थानेन:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग
जन्मनाby birth
जन्मना:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया, एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग
भवतःthan you / of you
भवतः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative reference)
TypeNoun
Rootभवत् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (genitive: ‘of you/than you’ in comparison)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा, एकवचन; (1st person pronoun)
सःsuch (a one)
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा, एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (referring to ‘I’ as such)
कथम्how
कथम्:
Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रश्नाव्यय
पालयिष्यामिshall govern/protect
पालयिष्यामि:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपाल् (धातु)
Formलृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
भूमिम्the earth/kingdom
भूमिम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वितीया, एकवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग
भवतिyou are / it is (when you...)
भवति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formलट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
तिष्ठतिstand/remain
तिष्ठति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु)
Formलट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Being younger to you in knowledge, position and birth, how can I rule the earth when you are present?

B
Bharata
R
Rama

FAQs

Dharma includes recognizing rightful authority and personal limitations; governance should rest with the most qualified and legitimate protector of the people.

Bharata refuses the throne and insists Rama must rule; he argues he cannot govern while Rama, superior in every respect, is alive.

Bharata’s humility and integrity—he rejects power and acknowledges Rama’s precedence.