Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 16

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

कुलोचितमतिः क्षात्रं धर्मं स्वं बहुमन्यते।मन्यते परया कीर्त्या महत्स्वर्गफलं ततः।।।।

Transliteration

kulocita-matiḥ kṣātraṃ dharmaṃ svaṃ bahu-manyate | manyate parayā kīrtyā mahat svarga-phalaṃ tataḥ ||

Translation

With a mind befitting his noble lineage, he held his own kṣatriya-duty in high esteem, believing that from great glory one gains a great reward—heavenly fruition.

Word by Word

• कुलोचितमतिः: having thoughts befitting his lineage
• कुलोचितमतिः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल-उचित-मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: कुले उचितः (कुलोचित) + मति (तत्पुरुष)

• क्षात्रम्: kshatriya-related
• क्षात्रम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to धर्मम्)

• धर्मम्: duty / code of conduct
• धर्मम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to धर्मम्)

• बहुमन्यते: esteems / honors
• बहुमन्यते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: बहु-√मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मन्यते: considers
• मन्यते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• परया: supreme
• परया: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to कीर्त्या)

• कीर्त्या: by/through fame
• कीर्त्या: करण/हेतु
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to स्वर्गफलम्)

• स्वर्गफलम्: fruit of heaven
• स्वर्गफलम्: कर्म (Object of मन्यते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग-फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: स्वर्गस्य फलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ततः: from that / therefore
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/हेतु (Therefore)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थ/हेतौ (from that/therefore)

Context

He entertained thoughts befitting his (great) dynasty and honoured the code of conduct of a kshatriya. He believed one could attain heavenly abode through his great achievements.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• kṣātra-dharma
• svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Role-based dharma: a kṣatriya honours duty and righteous achievement, seeing fame not as vanity but as the social recognition of dharmic action.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator frames Rāma as an exemplary heir, committed to the responsibilities of his warrior-royal station.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to duty and disciplined ambition—seeking honour through righteous deeds rather than selfish gain.