Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 14
पादुकाभिषेकः
The Consecration of Rama’s Sandals and Bharata’s Trusteeship at Nandigrama
एतद्राज्यं मम भ्रात्रा दत्तं सन्नयासवत्स्वयम्।योगक्षेमवहे चेमे पादुके हेमभूषिते।।।।
etad rājyaṃ mama bhrātrā dattaṃ sannyāsavat svayam | yogakṣemavahe ceme pāduke hemabhūṣite ||
இந்த அரசாட்சியை என் அண்ணன் தானே சந்நியாசத் தானம்போல் எனக்குக் கையளித்தான். மேலும் நாட்டின் யோகக்ஷேமப் பொறுப்பைத் தாங்கும் இச் சுவர்ணபூஷித பாதுகைகளையும் எனக்கே ஒப்படைத்தான்॥
My brother gave me this kingdom as a trust. He gave me the sandals decorated with gold for securing the prosperity and security (of the kingdom).
FAQs
Trusteeship in governance: Bharata frames rule not as personal ownership but as a sacred trust held on behalf of Rama, aligning political power with dharma rather than desire.
After receiving Rama’s sandals, Bharata explains to the public that the kingdom and the sandals are entrusted to him only temporarily, for the realm’s protection and welfare.
Integrity and self-restraint: Bharata refuses to treat kingship as a prize and instead accepts it as a duty-bound deposit.