Valmiki Ramayana 2.52.32: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 32
गङ्गातरणम्, सुमन्त्र-प्रतिनिवर्तनम्, जटाधारणम्
Crossing the Gaṅgā; Sumantra’s Return; Adoption of Ascetic Signs
Spoken by Rama to SumantraSetting: Ayodhya political sphere (instruction issued during departure)Places named: Ayodhyā (implied)Transition of power arrangements during exile
ब्रूयाश्च हि महाराजं भरतं क्षिप्रमानय ।
आगतश्चापि भरतः स्थाप्यो नृपमते पदे ॥३२॥
brūyāś ca hi mahārājaṃ bharataṃ kṣipram ānaya |
āgataś cāpi bharataḥ sthāpyo nṛpamate pade ||32||
राजा को बोलो कि भरत को जल्दी बुलाओ। जब भरत आ जाये, उसे राजा की जगह बिठा दो। राजा जो सोचता है वही सही है।
Sandhi Notes
- ब्रूयाश्च = ब्रूयाः + च
- आगतश्चापि = आगतः + च + अपि (ः + च → श्च; च + अपि → चापि)
Tell the king to send for Bharata quickly, and on his arrival, he be placed in the position of the king as per his own desire.
The teaching
When personal rights conflict with pledged duty, uphold the pledge and secure the realm’s stability through rightful succession.
Duties in tension
- Rama’s rightful claim as heir vs obedience to father’s decree and public stability
- Personal renunciation vs potential political disorder
- Ethical theme
- Rāja-dharma / tyāga
- How it resolves
- Delegation and continuity of rāja-dharma
For your practice
Cultivating non-possessiveness and responsibility: ensure welfare of others even when personally deprived.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Resolute, orderly, renunciant
Themes
- Dharma
- Rajadharma
- Succession
- Satya
- Itihasa
Renunciation of personal entitlement for the sake of order; acting without possessiveness (asakti) while ensuring dharmic governance.
Primacy of duty over desire; governance as yajña-like responsibility for social order (broad śruti ethos).
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son advising father’s governance (dutiful)
- Dasharatha and Bharata
- Father-son; succession decision (authoritative)
- Rama and Bharata
- Brothers; rightful succession tension (implicit) (self-effacing)
- Rama and Sumantra
- Messenger to convey urgent royal instruction (commanding)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.52 (succession-related messages); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.68-2.73 (Bharata’s return and refusal/footwear regency)
Mahābhārata: rāja-dharma discussions (Śānti Parva, thematic parallel)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s installation controversy and Rāma’s insistence on father’s word
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding
Firm pañcama on ‘bharataṃ kṣipram ānaya’
FAQs
Dharma here is orderly succession and obedience to the king’s declared intent, preventing chaos in governance.
Rāma directs that Bharata be called and placed in kingship as Daśaratha desires, ensuring continuity of rule.
Renunciation and public-mindedness—Rāma prioritizes stability of the realm over personal entitlement.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
