Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 22

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Spoken by King Daśaratha to SumantraSetting: Ayodhyā palace (king’s audience area)Summons/escort within city-palace circuit

Devanagari script

ततस्सुमन्त्रं द्युतिमान्राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ।

रामः कृतात्मा भवता शीघ्रमानीयतामिति ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.22

Transliteration

tataḥ sumantraṃ dyutimān rājā vacanam abravīt |

rāmaḥ kṛtātmā bhavatā śīghram ānīyatām iti ||22||

Translation

ثم قال الملكُ المتلألئ لسومانترَ: «أحضِر إليّ سريعًا راما، المتحكّم في نفسه».

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Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)
• Role: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)

• sumantram: Sumantra
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• dyutimān: radiant/effulgent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dyutimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण to rājā
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• rājā: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• vacanam: words/command
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abravīt: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• kṛta-ātmā: self-possessed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg); बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose self is disciplined/formed'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• bhavatā: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (sg); आदरार्थक 'you'
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• śīghram: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghram (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ānīyatām: let (him) be brought
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let him be brought'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• iti: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)
• Role: Nipāta (निपात)

Sandhi Notes

• tatassumantraṃ → tataḥ + sumantram
• dyutimānrājā → dyutimān + rājā
• vacanamabravīt → vacanam + abravīt
• śīghramānīyatām → śīghram + ānīyatām
• kṛtātmā → kṛta-ātmā

Context

Thereafter the glorious king said to Sumantra, Bring immediately the selfpossessed Rama.

The teaching

Rightful authority issues clear, timely commands; the ideal prince is described first by inner self-mastery (kṛtātmā) before outer action.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / leadership

For your practice

Meditation on ‘kṛtātmā Rāma’ as an ideal of self-governance; inspires sādhaka to cultivate composure before responding to life’s summons.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Urgent, regal, purposeful

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Itihasa
• Maryada
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Right action proceeds through orderly command and service: the king initiates the next dharmic step by summoning the worthy heir without delay.

What is the narrative situation?

With preparations confirmed, Daśaratha instructs Sumantra to fetch Rāma immediately for the ensuing proceedings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s self-mastery (kṛtātmatā) is highlighted as a qualification for rulership, while Daśaratha shows decisiveness.