Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 19

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

स तु श्रेष्ठैर्गुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः।बहिश्चर इव प्राणो बभूव गुणतः प्रियः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.19

Transliteration

sa tu śreṣṭhair guṇair yuktaḥ prajānāṃ pārthivātmajaḥ | bahiścara iva prāṇo babhūva guṇataḥ priyaḥ ||

Translation

وكان ابنُ الملك موصولًا بأشرف الفضائل، فغدا محبوبًا لدى الرعية؛ وبصلاحه كان لهم كأنه نَفَسُ الحياة نفسه، يجري خارج الجسد.

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Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम ‘he’

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (but/indeed)

• śreṣṭhaiḥ: with excellent
• śreṣṭhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; ‘with excellent’

• guṇaiḥ: qualities
• guṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘with qualities’

• yuktaḥ: endowed
• yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) + yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘endowed/connected’

• prajānām: of the subjects
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; ‘of the subjects’

• pārthiva-ātmajaḥ: the king’s son
• pārthiva-ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘पार्थिवस्य आत्मजः’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘king’s son’

• bahiścaraḥ: moving outside
• bahiścaraḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahis (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष/अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः ‘बहिः चरः’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘moving outside’

• iva: like
• iva: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (like/as)

• prāṇaḥ: life-breath
• prāṇaḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘life-breath’

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘became/was’

• guṇataḥ: by his virtues
• guṇataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘by virtue of/owing to qualities’

• priyaḥ: beloved
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘dear/beloved’

Context

Bestowed with such excellent qualities, the prince (Rama) became a favourite of his subjects. He was like their vital life outside their bodies.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma is to become the people’s sustaining support through virtue; public trust is won not by power but by guṇa (ethical excellence).

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues cataloguing Rāma’s qualities, emphasizing his bond with the citizens and his suitability for kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Belovedness grounded in virtue—his moral character makes him life-giving to society.