Shloka 27

पादुकाभिषेकः

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

Devanagari script

तदा हि यत्कार्यमुपैति किञ्चिदुपायनं चोपहृतं महार्हम्।स पादुकाभ्यां प्रथमं निवेद्य चकार पश्चाद्भरतो यथावत्।।।।

Transliteration

tadā hi yat kāryam upaiti kiñcid upāyanaṃ copahṛtaṃ mahārham | sa pādukābhyāṃ prathamaṃ nivedya cakāra paścād bharato yathāvat ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ചെറിയതോ വലുതോ ഏതൊരു കാര്യം വന്നാലും, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അതിമൂല്യമുള്ള ഒരു ഉപഹാരം കൊണ്ടുവന്നാലും, ഭരതൻ ആദ്യം പാദുകാദ്വയത്തിന് നിവേദനം ചെയ്ത് പിന്നെ യഥാവിധി പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• hi: indeed, for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal nuance

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun used adjectivally; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular agreeing with kāryam

• kāryam: task, business
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; subject of upaiti (impersonal “arises”)

• upaiti: comes up, arises
• upaiti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ Present; 3rd person Singular; Parasmaipada

• kiñcit: any, even a little
• kiñcit: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable/quantifier (अव्ययप्राय) used adverbially “in any measure”

• upāyanam: gift, present
• upāyanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; coordinated with kāryam as another item that arises/is presented

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• upahṛtam: brought, offered
• upahṛtam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√hṛ (धातु) (कृदन्त: क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifying upāyanam

• mahārham: very valuable
• mahārham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifying upāyanam

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Nominative Singular

• pādukābhyām: to the two sandals
• pādukābhyām: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative Dual (चतुर्थी-द्विवचन)

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण) “first(ly)”

• nivedya: having offered/reported
• nivedya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (धातु) (कृदन्त: ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्) “having submitted/offered”

• cakāra: did, carried out
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) Perfect; 3rd person Singular; Parasmaipada

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time/sequence

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

• yathāvat: properly
• yathāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) “properly, as prescribed”

Context

On hearing the pleasing words of the counsellors which were in conformity with his desire, Bharata said to his charioteer, 'Harness my chariot'.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Pādukā (Rama’s sandals)

FAQs

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

Accountable governance and non-appropriation: Bharata treats all decisions and valuables as belonging first to the rightful king, embodying truth and trusteeship.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata’s daily administration in Nandigrāma is described: every issue and gift is first offered to Rama’s sandals before action is taken.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Scrupulous integrity—careful adherence to procedure (maryādā) and transparent rule under higher authority.