Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115, Shloka 19

पादुकाभिषेकः

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

Devanagari script

ततो निक्षिप्तभारोऽहं राघवेण समागतः।निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यं भजिष्ये गुरुवृत्तिताम्।।।।

Transliteration

tato nikṣiptabhāro 'haṃ rāghaveṇa samāgataḥ | nivedya gurave rājyaṃ bhajiṣye guruvṛttitām ||

Translation

待我与罗伽婆（罗摩）重逢，卸下此重担之后，我将把国度奉还给我所敬奉的长者，并以侍奉师长的戒律而生活。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time/sequence

• nikṣipta-bhāraḥ: having laid down the burden / with burden set aside
• nikṣipta-bhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikṣipta (कृदन्त, √kṣip धातु) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying aham; nikṣipta = past passive participle (क्त)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• rāghaveṇa: with Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghaveṇa: Sahakāraka / Sahāyī (सहकारक/सहाय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• samāgataḥ: (have) come together / reunited
• samāgataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (धातु) (कृदन्त: क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively with aham

• nivedya: having submitted, having handed over
• nivedya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (धातु) (कृदन्त: ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त); expresses prior action “having submitted/offered”

• gurave: to the guru (teacher/lord)
• gurave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी) Singular (एकवचन)

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

• bhajiṣye: I shall undertake/engage in
• bhajiṣye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्) / Periphrastic future; 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• guru-vṛttitām: the conduct/service of a guru (life of serving the guru)
• guru-vṛttitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक) + -tā (तद्धित/भाव)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine abstract noun in -tā (भाववाचक); Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

Context

The burden of this kingdom has been cast on me. On reunion with Rama, I shall hand it over to my brother, my guru and shall be engaged in his service.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rama (Rāghava)
• kingdom (Ayodhya, implied)

FAQs

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

Renunciation of illegitimate gain: Bharata treats kingship as a burden carried for dharma, to be relinquished the moment rightful authority is restored.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata explains his future plan: after meeting Rama again, he will formally return the kingdom and resume a subordinate, service-oriented role.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Service-mindedness and obedience to rightful hierarchy: he calls Rama ‘guru’ and chooses service over sovereignty.