Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 58, 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

اور کمار بھرت کے ساتھ بھی ایسا برتاؤ کرنا جیسے راجا کے ساتھ کیا جاتا ہے۔ کیونکہ راج پن کے سبب راجا ہی بزرگ شمار ہوتے ہیں؛ پس راج دھرم کو یاد رکھنا۔

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.