Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 13

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

बुद्धिमान्मधुराभाषी पूर्वभाषी प्रियंवदः।वीर्यवान्न च वीर्येण महता स्वेन विस्मितः।।।।

Transliteration

buddhimān madhurā-bhāṣī pūrva-bhāṣī priyaṃ-vadaḥ | vīryavān na ca vīryeṇa mahatā svena vismitaḥ ||

Translation

كان حكيماً عذبَ الكلام، يبتدئ الحديث ويقول ما يسرّ؛ ومع شجاعته لم يكن قطّ يزهو بقوّته العظيمة.

Word by Word

• बुद्धिमान्: wise
• बुद्धिमान्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

• मधुराभाषी: sweet-speaking
• मधुराभाषी: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर-भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: मधुरा भाषा यस्य/मधुरं भाषते (कर्मधारय-प्रयोग)

• पूर्वभाषी: one who speaks first
• पूर्वभाषी: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व-भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: पूर्वं भाषते (अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोग; here treated as determinative)

• प्रियंवदः: speaking pleasing words
• प्रियंवदः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-वद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: प्रियं वदति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• वीर्यवान्: valiant
• वीर्यवान्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

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

• वीर्येण: by (his) strength
• वीर्येण: करण/हेतु
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महता: great
• महता: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to वीर्येण)

• स्वेन: his own
• स्वेन: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to वीर्येण)

• विस्मितः: proud / conceited (lit. astonished)
• विस्मितः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्मि/√स्मय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

Context

Wise and soft-spoken, he was the first to speak to others words pleasing to hear. Though mighty, he was never proud of his overwhelming strength.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Power must be governed by humility and right speech: dharma is expressed as courteous communication and the absence of pride despite capability.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues the catalog of Rāma’s virtues, focusing on his manner of speaking and his modesty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mādhurya (gentle speech) joined with amānitva (humility) even in greatness.