Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 42

द्वितीयः सर्गः — श्लोकप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Śloka

Devanagari script

उदारवृत्तार्थपदैर्मनोरमैःतदास्य रामस्य चकारकीर्तिमान् ।समाक्षरैश्श्लोकशतैर्यशस्विनो यशस्करं काव्यमुदारधीर्मुनि: ।।1.2.42।।

Transliteration

udāra-vṛttārtha-padair manoramaiḥ tadā ’sya rāmasya cakāra kīrtimān |

samākṣaraiḥ ślokaśatair yaśasvino yaśaskaraṁ kāvyam udāra-dhīr muniḥ ||1.2.42||

Translation

Then the renowned, broad-minded sage composed a glorious poem about Rāma—celebrated and fame-bestowing—formed of hundreds of metrically even ślokas, with noble diction and delightful, meaningful words.

Word by Word

• udāravṛttārthapadaiḥ: with excellent metrical, meaningful words
• udāravṛttārthapadaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udāra + vṛtta + artha + pada (प्रातिपदिक-समाहार)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga (contextual), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; साधन—‘by/with (words/phrases) of noble metre, meaning, and diction’

• manoramaiḥ: charming
• manoramaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manorama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga (contextual), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; विशेषण—‘udāravṛttārthapadaiḥ’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kālādhi karaṇa / Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; सम्बन्ध—‘of this (Rāma)’

• rāmasya: of Rāma
• rāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• cakāra: made/composed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ? (No) — Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/परोक्षभूत-लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• kīrtimān: the renowned one
• kīrtimān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrtimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; विशेषणरूपेण ‘muniḥ’ (understood) / कर्ता

• samākṣaraiḥ: with equal syllables
• samākṣaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samākṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; विशेषण—‘ślokaśataiḥ’

• ślokaśataiḥ: with hundreds of ślokas
• ślokaśataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śloka + śata (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; साधन—‘by hundreds of verses’

• yaśasvinaḥ: of the glorious one
• yaśasvinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘rāmasya’ (genitive qualifier)

• yaśaskaram: glory-producing
• yaśaskaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśas-kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘kāvyam’

• kāvyam: poem
• kāvyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāvya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; कर्म—‘cakāra’

• udāradhīḥ: noble-minded
• udāradhīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra-dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘muniḥ’

• muniḥ: sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; कर्ता—‘cakāra’

Context

The renowned and sagacious sage composed a kavya with hundreds of charming verses, each containing equal number of syllables and excellent meaningful words set in metre, conferring glory on celebrated Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Rāma
• Rāmāyaṇa (kāvya)
• śloka

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld by portraying an ideal life in beautiful but disciplined language—truth conveyed attractively so that listeners are drawn toward righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator summarizes that Vālmīki proceeded to compose the Rāmāyaṇa: a large, metrically regular epic praising Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility in scholarship and artistry: Vālmīki’s wisdom shapes a work that is both aesthetically refined and ethically elevating.