Shloka 20

अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः (Sarga 58)

Daśaratha Questions Sumantra; Messages from the Forest Threshold

Devanagari script

कुमारे भरते वृत्तिर्वर्तितव्या च राजवत्।अर्थज्येष्ठा हि राजानो राजधर्ममनुस्मर।।।।

Transliteration

kumāre bharate vṛttir vartitavyā ca rājavat |

arthajyeṣṭhā hi rājāno rājadharmam anusmara ||

Translation

కుమారుడైన భరతుని పట్ల కూడా రాజునివలెనే ప్రవర్తించవలెను. రాజత్వమువలననే రాజులు ‘జ్యేష్ఠులు’ అవుతారు; రాజధర్మమును స్మరించుము।

Word by Word

• kumāre: towards the prince
• kumāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; here: ‘in/with regard to the prince’

• bharate: towards Bharata
• bharate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; apposition to kumāre

• vṛttiḥ: conduct/behavior
• vṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• vartitavyā: is to be maintained
• vartitavyā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; agrees with vṛttiḥ

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

• rājavat: like (towards) a king
• rājavat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: rājavat (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• artha-jyeṣṭhāḥ: pre-eminent in wealth/power
• artha-jyeṣṭhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण to rājānaḥ

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• rājānaḥ: kings
• rājānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• rāja-dharmam: duty of kings/royal duty
• rāja-dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• anusmara: remember/keep in mind
• anusmara: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-smṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

'Behave towards young Bharata as to a king. Irrespective of age, a king is a king. (Hence should be honoured). You should keep this rajadharma (royal prerogative) in mind.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma and institutional respect: authority must be honored for the stability of the realm, regardless of the ruler’s age; social order is protected by respecting rightful kingship.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma instructs that Bharata—though young—should be treated with the honor due to a king, emphasizing royal norms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s political wisdom and commitment to orderly succession and governance are emphasized.