Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 4

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

विदितं भवतामेतद्यथा मे राज्यमुत्तमम्।पूर्वकैर्मम राजेन्द्रैस्सुतवत्परिपालितम्।।2.2.4।।

Transliteration

viditaṃ bhavatām etad yathā me rājyam uttamam | pūrvakair mama rājendraiḥ sutavat paripālitam || 2.2.4 ||

Translation

You all know well how this excellent kingdom of mine was governed by my royal predecessors—great kings who protected their subjects as tenderly as their own children.

Word by Word

• सः: he / that (one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• इक्ष्वाकुभिः: by the Ikṣvākus
• इक्ष्वाकुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies narendraiḥ/ikṣvākubhiḥ

• नरेन्द्रैः: by kings
• नरेन्द्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa/Karmadhāraya: 'lord among men'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• परिपालितम्: protected/ruled
• परिपालितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-pāl (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object understood (राज्यम्)

• श्रेयसा: with welfare / for the better
• श्रेयसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• योक्तुकामः: desiring to unite/attach (to welfare)
• योक्तुकामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yoktu-kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: infinitive yoktum (√yuj, तुमुन्) + kāma; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with अहम्

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• सुखार्हम्: worthy of happiness
• सुखार्हम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha-arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: sukhasya arha; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies जगत्

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies जगत्

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Rama, a tiger among men, always enquires whether our disciples discharge their duties.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā (implied by context of the kingdom)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma: a king must protect and nurture the people with parental responsibility, not exploit them; governance is caretaking.

What is the narrative situation?

In the royal assembly, Daśaratha recalls the established tradition of righteous rule upheld by earlier kings of his line.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible kingship—protectiveness, continuity of good governance, and reverence for inherited dharmic standards.