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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.98.59

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 98: Bharata’s appeal and Rāma’s answer. Bharata asks him to restore the Kingdom, Rāma teaches the inevitability of loss, separation and death

In the sequence: he says ruling and maintaining a household are appropriate duties for Rāma at this stage of life → he asks Vasiṣṭha to install Rāma there in the forest and offers once again to stay if Rāma will not return → Rāma remains firm, while the gathering joins Bharata's appeal.

2.98.59

śrutena bālaḥ sthānena janmanā bhavato hy aham
sa kathaṃ pālayiṣyāmi bhūmiṃ bhavati tiṣṭhati

In learning, in rank, and in birth I am but a child beside you; how then, such as I am, shall I govern the earth while you yet live?

Words: śrutena — in learning; bālaḥ — a child, youth; sthānena — in rank, station; janmanā — in birth; bhavato hy aham — I beside you; sa — such (being so); kathaṃ pālayiṣyāmi — how shall I rule; bhūmiṃ — the earth; bhavati tiṣṭhati — while you remain

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.