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

اور اس مہاباہو، اِکشواکو کُل کے فخر (بھرت) سے یہ بھی کہنا کہ یُووراج کے منصب پر قائم ہو کر، تخت پر بیٹھے ہوئے اپنے پتا کی فرمانبرداری کرتے ہوئے، راجیہ کی حفاظت کرے۔

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.