Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 12

पादुकाभिषेकः

The Consecration of Rama’s Sandals and Bharata’s Trusteeship at Nandigrama

Devanagari script

रथस्थः स तु धर्मात्मा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।नन्दिग्रामं ययौ तूर्णं शिरस्यादाय पादुके।।।।

Transliteration

rathasthaḥ sa tu dharmātmā bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ | nandigrāmaṃ yayau tūrṇaṃ śirasy ādāya pāduke || 2.115.12 ||

Translation

Bharata, bậc hiền đức, hết lòng thương kính anh, ngồi trên xe ngựa vội vã đến Nandigrāma, đội trên đầu đôi dép của Rāma.

Word by Word

• ratha-sthaḥ: standing on/in the chariot
• ratha-sthaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रथे स्थितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भरतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भरतः इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• bhrātṛ-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to his brother
• bhrātṛ-vatsalaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भ्रातरि वत्सलः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भरतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• nandigrāmam: to Nandigrāma
• nandigrāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandigrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tūrṇam: swiftly
• tūrṇam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• śirasi: on (his) head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ādāya: having taken/bearing
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावे; उपसर्ग: आ-

• pāduke: the two sandals
• pāduke: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Context

Righteous Bharata who was deeply attached to his brother proceeded speedily towards Nandigrama on the chariot bearing the sandals of Rama on his head.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Nandigrāma
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Legitimate authority is grounded in dharma and truth: Bharata refuses personal ambition and honours Rāma’s rightful kingship by treating the sandals as the emblem of sovereign duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata travels quickly to Nandigrāma, carrying Rāma’s sandals as a sacred symbol of rulership and service.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and fraternal devotion (bhrātṛvatsalatā): Bharata places himself beneath Rāma’s authority and acts as a trustee, not a usurper.