Valmiki Ramayana 2.115.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 13
पादुकाभिषेकः · The Consecration of Rama’s Sandals and Bharata’s Trusteeship at Nandigrama
Setting: NandigrāmaArrival at destination
ततस्तु भरतः क्षिप्रं नन्दिग्रामं प्रविश्य सः ।
अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं गुरूनिदमुवाच ह ॥१३॥
tatas tu bharataḥ kṣipraṃ nandigrāmaṃ praviśya saḥ |
avatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ gurūn idam uvāca ha ||13||
भरत जल्दी से नंदिग्राम के अंदर गए। रथ से उतर के सीधा बड़े लोगों से बात की। उन्होंने कुछ कहा।
Sandhi Notes
- rathāttūrṇam → rathāt tūrṇam
- gurūnidamuvāca → gurūn idam uvāca
Bharata entered Nandigrama quickly, alighted from the chariot and then, addressing, the preceptors, said:
The teaching
Even at the moment of arrival, the righteous prioritize counsel and propriety—action begins with respect to dharma-guides.
- Ethical theme
- Ācāra / rāja-nīti
For your practice
Encourages pausing before speech/action, honoring elders/teachers as a discipline of humility and right conduct.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Composed, procedural, respectful
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Respect for elders
- Decision-making
- Righteous governance
Before action, the seeker ‘steps down’ from motion into deliberation—karma guided by buddhi aligned to dharma.
Approach to teachers before undertaking decisive action echoes the guru-upasatti ideal (approaching the wise).
- Bharata and Nandigrama
- Incoming regent; entering settlement to establish dharmic governance (solemn-duty)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.116 (Bharata’s subsequent decisions at Nandigrāma)
Epic convention: arrival followed by formal address to elders before any political act
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated pattern of counsel-taking from Vasiṣṭha and elders in royal decisions
Anuṣṭup
Narrative
Madhyama (middle register)
FAQs
Dharma proceeds through consultation and respect: Bharata does not act unilaterally but turns to elders immediately, modelling accountable leadership.
Upon reaching Nandigrāma, Bharata dismounts and prepares to state his intention or request before the preceptors.
Promptness joined with humility: swift action is balanced by deference to moral and social authority.
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