Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 2

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

तत्र न्यवसद्भ्रात्रा सह सत्कारसत्कृतः।मातुलेनाश्वपतिना पुत्रस्नेहेन लालितः।।।।

Transliteration

tatra nyavasad bhrātrā saha satkāra-satkṛtaḥ | mātulenāśvapatinā putra-snehena lālitaḥ ||

Translation

وأقام هناك مع أخيه، مُكرَّمًا بكل صنوف الإحسان والتوقير؛ وكان خاله أشفَبَتي يدلّله بمحبةٍ كمحبة الابن.

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• nyavasat: stayed, dwelt
• nyavasat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (imperfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhrātrā: with (his) brother
• bhrātrā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; with saha

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha-dyotaka (सहार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition-like indeclinable meaning ‘with’

• satkārasatkṛtaḥ: well received, hospitably honoured
• satkārasatkṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sat-kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) < √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: satkāreṇa satkṛtaḥ ‘honoured with hospitality’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying (Bharata)

• mātulena: by (his) maternal uncle
• mātulena: Kartṛ (कर्ता/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agent in passive sense with lālitaḥ

• aśvapatinā: by Aśvapati (lord of horses)
• aśvapatinā: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to mātulena

• putrasnehena: with filial affection
• putrasnehena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: putrasya snehaḥ ‘affection like for a son’; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrument/cause

• lālitaḥ: was fondled/cherished
• lālitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lālita (कृदन्त, क्त) < √lal (धातु)
• Form: Kta past passive participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive predication

Context

Treated with warm hospitality and fatherly affection by his maternal uncle Aswapati, Bharata stayed on there along with his brother.

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata
• Śatrughna (implied as ‘brother’)
• Aśvapati (maternal uncle)
• Kekaya (implied locale/kingdom context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as kinship responsibility and hospitality: relatives uphold social order through respectful reception and affectionate care.

What is the narrative situation?

Bhārata (with Śatrughna) is residing away from Ayodhyā at his maternal uncle’s home, a circumstance that later affects the unfolding political crisis.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Warm familial care and proper honoring of guests/kinsmen (satkāra).