Shloka 15

पादुकाभिषेकः

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

Devanagari script

भरत श्शिरसा कृत्वा सन्न्यासं पादुके ततः।अब्रवीद्धुःखसंतप्त स्सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम्।।।।

Transliteration

bharataḥ śirasā kṛtvā sannyāsaṃ pāduke tataḥ | abravīd duḥkhasaṃtaptaḥ sarvaṃ prakṛtimaṇḍalam ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ഭരതൻ ന്യാസമായ ആ പാദുകകൾ ശിരസ്സിൽ ധരിച്ചു; ദുഃഖത്തിൽ ദഹിച്ച ഹൃദയത്തോടെ, രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ സമസ്ത പ്രജാസമൂഹമായ സഭയോട് സംസാരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental: with/on the head)

• kṛtvā: having made/placed
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• sannyāsam: the trust/deposit
• sannyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sannyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pāduke: the two sandals
• pāduke: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; (शिरसा कृत्वा—on head)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• duḥkha-saṃtaptaḥ: afflicted by grief
• duḥkha-saṃtaptaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃtapta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दुःखेन संतप्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भरतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• sarvam: entire
• sarvam: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; prakṛtimaṇḍalam इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• prakṛti-maṇḍalam: the assembly of subjects
• prakṛti-maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रकृतीनां मण्डलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Context

Then Bharata placed the sandals held in trust on his head and, overcome with grief, he addressed the concourse of subjects:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• pādukā (Rama’s sandals)

FAQs

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

Reverence for rightful authority: placing the sandals on his head symbolizes Bharata’s submission to dharma and legitimacy, not personal ambition.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata publicly honors Rama’s sandals and prepares to address the people, clarifying his intention to act only as caretaker.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and devotion: Bharata’s gesture shows deep respect and grief-driven sincerity.