Valmiki Ramayana 2.113.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 113, Shloka 13
पादुकाप्रदानं भरतस्य निवृत्तिश्च
The Sandals Bestowed; Bharata’s Return Toward Ayodhya
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन राघवः प्राङ्मुखः स्थितः ।
पादुके ह्यधिरुह्यैते मम राज्याय वै ददौ ॥१३॥
evam ukto vasiṣṭhena rāghavaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ sthitaḥ |
pāduke hy adhiruhyaite mama rājyāya vai dadau ||13||
Tak zwrócony przez Vasiṣṭhę, Rāghava stanął zwrócony na wschód; wstąpiwszy na te sandały, podarował mi je dla rządzenia królestwem.
Sandhi Notes
- एवम् + उक्तः → एवमुक्तः
- हि + अधिरुह्य → ह्यधिरुह्य
Thus addressed by Vasistha, Rama stood facing eastward wearing these sandals. and bestowed them on me for the sake of ruling the kingdom.
The teaching
Legitimacy can be preserved through symbolic enthronement when the rightful ruler must be absent for dharma’s sake.
Duties in tension
- Rāma’s exile vow vs. need for legitimate governance
- Bharata’s obligation to accept rule vs. moral refusal to enjoy usurped power
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma / stewardship
- How it resolves
- Regency under symbol of rightful king
For your practice
Meditation on ‘pāda’ (the Lord’s feet) as refuge; cultivating humility to hold responsibility without possessiveness.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Consecratory, authoritative, self-effacing
Themes
- Dharma
- Rajadharma
- Satya
- Maryādā
- Itihasa
Acting without possessiveness: authority is exercised as duty, not as egoic ownership (niṣkāma-karma resonance).
Bṛhadāraṇyaka/Kaṭha thematic echo: inner sovereignty vs. outer throne; the wise remain steady while roles shift.
- Vashishtha and Rama
- Guru directs; disciple complies (respectful)
- Rama and Bharata
- Elder brother confers regency token to younger (trusting)
- Bharata and Ayodhya
- Regent governing on behalf of Rama (dutiful)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.114 (Bharata returns with pādukā; installation tradition continues); Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa (pādukā on the throne; Bharata as caretaker-king)
Ritual orientation (east-facing) in śrauta/smārta practice
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Bharata’s vow to live austerely and rule only as Rama’s representative (nearby passages)
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Udātta-pradhāna
FAQs
Legitimacy and restraint: authority is transferred as duty, not as desire—Bharata rules as trustee under Rāma’s rightful sovereignty.
Rāma ritually and publicly gives his sandals to Bharata as the emblem of kingship for administering Ayodhyā.
Rāma’s maryādā (propriety) and sense of responsibility toward the kingdom despite personal renunciation.
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