Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 44

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

आत्मनश्च प्रजानां च श्रेयसे च प्रियेण च।।।।प्राप्तकालेन धर्मात्मा भक्त्या त्वरितवान् नृपः।

Transliteration

ātmanaś ca prajānāṃ ca śreyase ca priyeṇa ca | prāptakālena dharmātmā bhaktyā tvaritavān nṛpaḥ ||

Translation

For his own good and for that of his subjects, and out of love, the righteous king—seeing that the proper time had come—hastened forward with devoted resolve.

Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-पूर्वपद)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘various’ as pre-member in compound

• नगरवास्तव्यान्: city-dwellers
• नगरवास्तव्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर + वास्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नगरे वास्तव्याः)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘separately’

• जानपदान्: people of the countryside
• जानपदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• समआनिनाय: summoned
• समआनिनाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘summoned/brought together’

• मेदिन्याः: of the earth
• मेदिन्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रधानान्: chief/leading
• प्रधानान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘chief’ (qualifying पृथिवीपतीन्)

• पृथिवीपतीन्: kings
• पृथिवीपतीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्याः पतयः)

Context

The king realised afterwards that his grief would be dispelled if noble Rama whose countenance resembled the full moon and who was a favourite of the people is crowned.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Subjects (Prajā)

FAQs

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

Dharma is timely, welfare-centered governance: acting at the right moment for the good of both ruler and subjects, without delay.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, convinced the time is ripe, accelerates preparations toward the succession plan.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s devotion to duty (bhakti to dharma) expressed as prompt, purposeful action.