Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 12

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

राज्यं गतजनं साधो पीतमण्डां सुरामिव।निरास्वाद्यतमं शून्यं भरतो नाभिपत्स्यते।।।।

Transliteration

rājyaṃ gatajanaṃ sādho pītamaṇḍāṃ surām iva | nirāsvādyatamaṃ śūnyaṃ bharato nābhipatsyate || 2.36.12 ||

Translation

Ôi bậc minh quân, Bharata sẽ không nhận một vương quốc đã vắng bóng dân chúng, trống rỗng và không còn vị ngọt—như rượu đã bị rút cạn tinh chất.

Word by Word

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• gata-janam: abandoned by people
• gata-janam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; adjective of rājyam

• sādho: O virtuous one
• sādho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/प्रथमा) Singular

• pīta-maṇḍām: with its essence drained
• pīta-maṇḍām: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; agreeing with surām; 'whose essence has been drunk/removed'

• surām: wine/liquor
• surām: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• nir-āsvādya-tamam: most unenjoyable
• nir-āsvādya-tamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + āsvādya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; superlative (तमप्) of āsvādya with privative nir-; adjective of rājyam

• śūnyam: empty
• śūnyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; adjective of rājyam

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

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• abhipatsyate: will obtain/accept
• abhipatsyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-pad (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्) / future; Ātmanepada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person) Singular

Context

O virtuous king! Bharata will not take charge of the kingdom abandoned by men, drained of wealth and incapable of being enjoyed, like wine with its essence evaporated.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikeyī
• Daśaratha
• Bharata

FAQs

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

It implies that kingship without popular support and prosperity is ethically and practically hollow; a ruler should not seek a ‘vacant’ sovereignty lacking legitimacy and welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Kaikeyī argues that if Rāma is removed and the realm destabilized, Bharata will not consent to rule such a depleted kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Bharata’s presumed integrity and refusal to enjoy an unrighteous or joyless gain—anticipating his later conduct in the epic.