Valmiki Ramayana 2.79.5: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 79, Shloka 5

भरतस्य राज्यत्यागः तथा रामानयनप्रतिज्ञा

Bharata Rejects Kingship and Vows to Bring Rama Back

Addressed to BharataSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

राज्यं गृहाण भरत पितृपैतामहं ध्रुवम् ।

अभिषेचय चात्मानं पाहि चास्मान्नरर्षभ ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.79.5

Transliteration

rājyaṃ gṛhāṇa bharata pitṛpaitāmahaṃ dhruvam |

abhiṣecaya cātmānaṃ pāhi cāsmān nararṣabha ||5||

Translation

హే భరతా! పితృపైతామహమైన ఈ ధృఢ రాజ్యాన్ని స్వీకరించు; హే నరర్షభా! నిన్ను నీవు అభిషేకించుకొని మమ్మల్ని రక్షించు।

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Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object of गृहाण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• गृहाण: accept/take
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु; ग्रह उपादाने)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक क्रिया)

• भरत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• पितृ: father
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; in compound
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• पैतामहम्: ancestral
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; qualifying राज्यं; ‘ancestral (from grandfather)’
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• ध्रुवम्: firm/established
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; qualifying राज्यं
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• अभिषेचय: get consecrated
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु; √sic सिञ्चने, causative)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; causative ‘have (yourself) consecrated’
• Role: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक क्रिया)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)

• आत्मानम्: yourself
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; reflexive object
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• पाहि: protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु; पा रक्षणे)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक क्रिया)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)

• अस्मान्: us
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• नर: men
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; in compound
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• ऋषभ: O bull among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; address
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

Sandhi Notes

• चात्मानम् = च + आत्मानम्
• चास्मान् = च + अस्मान्
• नरर्षभ = नर + ऋषभ (समास; कर्मधारयार्थे ‘नरेषु ऋषभः’)

Context

O best among men, inherit this stable kingdom of your ancestors, get yourself consecrated and save us.

The teaching

Kingship is not possession but protection; consecration is meaningful only when aligned with rightful dharma.

Duties in tension

• Duty to accept kingship for protection of prajā vs duty to uphold Rāmas primogeniture and justice
• Personal humility/reluctance vs public necessity

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / legitimacy

For your practice

Invites reflection on leadership as seva and protection; aligns with vrata of non-appropriation and fidelity to dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Imperative, protective, solemn

Themes

• Rajadharma
• Protection of Subjects
• Dharma
• Kingship

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rājya (kingdom)
• Abhiṣeka (coronation, implied)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma as protection: kingship is presented not as privilege but as the duty to safeguard subjects and maintain stability.

What is the narrative situation?

The people formally request Bharata to accept the throne and undergo consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of the protector-king: the ruler’s primary virtue is guardianship and responsibility toward the people.