Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 12

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

शीलवृद्धैर्ज्ञानवृद्धैर्वयोवृद्धैश्च सज्जनैः।कथयन्नास्त वै नित्यमस्त्रयोग्यान्तरेष्वपि।।।।

Transliteration

śīla-vṛddhair jñāna-vṛddhair vayo-vṛddhaiś ca sajjanaiḥ | kathayan āste vai nityam astra-yogyāntareṣv api ||

Translation

وكان يداوم الحديث مع الصالحين—المتقدّمين في الخُلُق والعلم والسنّ—حتى في الفواصل بين تدريباته على السلاح.

Word by Word

• शीलवृद्धैः: with those mature in conduct
• शीलवृद्धैः: सह/सहकारक (Saha/Association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील-वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समास: शीलेन वृद्धाः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• ज्ञानवृद्धैः: with those mature in knowledge
• ज्ञानवृद्धैः: सह/सहकारक
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समास: ज्ञानेन वृद्धाः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• वयोवृद्धैः: with the aged
• वयोवृद्धैः: सह/सहकारक
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वयस्-वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समास: वयसः वृद्धाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सज्जनैः: with good people
• सज्जनैः: सह/सहकारक
• Type: Noun
• Root: सज्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• कथयन्: conversing
• कथयन्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भाव (concomitant action)

• आस्ते: remains / sits
• आस्ते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• अस्त्रयोग्य-अन्तरेषु: in intervals of weapon-practice
• अस्त्रयोग्य-अन्तरेषु: अधिकरण (Location/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र-योग्य-अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; समास: अस्त्राणां योग्यं (अस्त्रयोग्य) + अन्तर (तत्पुरुष; determinative)

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive)

Context

Even during intervals of his practice of weapons he never failed to interact with saintly persons and with people advanced in age, virtue and wisdom.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• elders (śīla/jñāna/vayaḥ-vṛddha)

FAQs

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

Learning anchored in character: even while mastering power (weapons), one must remain in the company of the wise and virtuous to keep strength aligned with dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The text continues describing Rāma’s daily habits—balancing martial discipline with discourse among elders and good people.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for wisdom and good conduct, and a disciplined commitment to uplifting association (satsaṅga).