Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 22

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

वक्तव्यश्च महाबाहुरिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः।पितरं यौवराज्यस्थो राज्यस्थमनुपालय।।2.58.22।।

Transliteration

vaktavyaś ca mahābāhur ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ | pitaraṃ yauvarājyastho rājyastham anupālaya ||

Translation

महाबाहुं इक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनं भरतं वक्तव्यः—यौवराज्यस्थः सन् पितरं राज्यस्थं आज्ञापालनपूर्वकं राज्यं चानुपालय।

Word by Word

• vaktavyaḥ: is to be told
• vaktavyaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; (he) is to be told/should be addressed

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय

• mahā-bāhuḥ: mighty-armed
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण to ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ

• ikṣvāku-kula-nandanaḥ: delight of the Ikṣvāku lineage
• ikṣvāku-kula-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• pitaram: father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• yauvarājya-sthaḥ: being in the office of prince-regent
• yauvarājya-sthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yauvarājya (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘in the position of prince-regent’

• rājya-stham: situated in the kingdom (as king)
• rājya-stham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण to pitaram

• anupālaya: obey/protect/serve
• anupālaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-pāl (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Rajadharma grounded in filial duty: governance must align with respect for legitimate authority and service to one’s father/king.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs that Bharata, if acting as prince-regent, must uphold the state while remaining obedient to Daśaratha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility with humility—power exercised under dharma, not personal ambition.