Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 9

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Setting: Ayodhya royal palace—inner apartment (gṛha/antaḥpura vicinity)Places named: गृहं (inner apartment/room)

Devanagari script

तं श्रुत्वा समनुप्राप्तं रामं दशरथो नृपः ।

प्रवेशयामास गृहं विवक्षुः प्रियमुत्तमम् ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.9

Transliteration

taṃ śrutvā samanuprāptaṃ rāmaṃ daśaratho nṛpaḥ |

praveśayāmāsa gṛhaṃ vivakṣuḥ priyam uttamam ||9||

Translation

فلما سمع الملك دَشَرَثَةُ بوصول راما، أدخله إلى مخدعه الداخلي، راغبًا أن يحدّثه بأمرٍ بالغ السرور.

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Word by Word

• तम्: him/that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा, gerund)
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• समनुप्राप्तम्: arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अनु + प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘having arrived/come’ (rāmam…samanuprāptam)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• रामम्: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• दशरथः: Dasaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• नृपः: king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दशरथस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)

• प्रवेशयामास: had (him) admitted
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative) ‘caused to enter/admitted’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• गृहम्: into the house/palace
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/गत्यर्थक-लक्ष्य), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• विवक्षुः: wishing to say
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (उ-प्रत्यय, desiderative adjective/agent-noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘wishing to speak’
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/हेतु)

• प्रियम्: pleasing (words)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (what he wished to say)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रियस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma-dharma (कर्मधर्म/विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• प्रियमुत्तमम् = प्रियम् + उत्तमम्

Context

Having heard of Rama's arrival, king Dasaratha got him admitted into his apartment to tell him something very pleasant.

The teaching

Private intentions and pleasant speech can precede grave ethical trials; rulers must weigh promises against the welfare of the realm and righteousness.

Duties in tension

• Dasharatha’s duty to uphold truth of boons/promises
• Dasharatha’s duty to protect and enthrone Rama (paternal and royal duty)

Ethical theme

Rājadharma vs satya-vrata

How it resolves

Deferred/impending; conflict not yet resolved in this verse

For your practice

Cultivating viveka: do not be intoxicated by ‘pleasant’ news; prepare the mind for dharmic steadiness amid reversals.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Anticipatory, tender, ominous

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Royal intention
• Father-son relationship

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma of orderly royal conduct: the king follows proper protocol—summoning and privately receiving Rāma—to communicate matters of state and family responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha hears of Rāma’s arrival and brings him into his private quarters, intending to speak something welcome to him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s affection and formality—he treats the moment as both intimate (father-son) and official (king-prince).