Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 24

पादुकाभिषेकः

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

Devanagari script

रामागमनमाकाङ्क्षन्भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तथा।।।।पादुके त्वभिषिच्याथ नन्दिग्रामेऽवसत्तदा।

Transliteration

rāmāgamanam ākāṅkṣan bharato bhrātṛ-vatsalaḥ | bhrātur vacana-kārī ca pratijñā-pāragaḥ tathā || pāduke tv abhiṣicyātha nandigrāme ’vasat tadā |

Translation

Khát vọng ngày Rāma trở về, Bharata—hết lòng thương kính anh, vâng theo lời anh, và kiên định trọn lời thệ—đã làm lễ quán đảnh cho đôi dép, rồi cư ngụ tại Nandigrāma.

Word by Word

• rāma-āgamanam: Rama’s return
• rāma-āgamanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक) + āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Neuter, Accusative Singular; object of ākāṅkṣan

• ākāṅkṣan: longing for, desiring
• ākāṅkṣan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kāṅkṣ (धातु) (कृदन्त: शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative Singular; adjectival to bharataḥ

• bharataḥ: Bharata
• bharataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• bhrātṛ-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to his brother
• bhrātṛ-vatsalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative Singular

• bhrātuḥ: of (his) brother
• bhrātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive Singular

• vacana-kārī: obedient to (his) word
• vacana-kārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक) + kārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative Singular; “one who does (another’s) word”

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• pratijñā-pāragaḥ: one who fulfills his vow
• pratijñā-pāragaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratijñā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Nominative Singular; “one who has gone to the end of (i.e., fulfills) a vow”

• tathā: thus, in that manner
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle of manner

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

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• abhiṣicya: having consecrated
• abhiṣicya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु) (कृदन्त: ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्) “having consecrated”

• atha: then, thereafter
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तरबोधक निपात)

• nandigrāme: in Nandigrāma
• nandigrāme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandigrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative Singular

• avasat: lived
• avasat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) narrative past; 3rd person Singular; Parasmaipada

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

Context

Hearing the auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata the counsellors, priests including Vasistha replied:

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama
• Nandigrāma
• Pādukā (Rama’s sandals)

FAQs

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

Truth to one’s vow and rightful authority: Bharata formalizes Rama’s sovereignty through the sandals, ruling only as a trustee.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata establishes symbolic kingship of Rama via the pādukā and resides in Nandigrāma awaiting Rama.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pratijñā-pālana (keeping a pledge) and obedience to dharmic authority (Rama’s rightful claim).