Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 23

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

निभृत स्संवृताकारो गुप्तमन्त्र स्सहायवान्।अमोघक्रोधहर्षश्च त्यागसंयमकालवित्।।।।

Transliteration

nibhṛtaḥ saṃvṛtākāro gupta-mantraḥ sahāyavān | amogha-krodha-harṣaś ca tyāga-saṃyama-kāla-vit ||

Translation

Er war bescheiden und verhüllte sein Inneres; er beriet im Geheimen und hatte treue Gefährten. Weder sein Zorn noch seine Freude waren je vergeblich — er kannte die Zeit des Gebens und die Zeit der Selbstzucht.

Word by Word

• nibhṛtaḥ: quiet
• nibhṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nibhṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘modest/quiet’

• saṃvṛta-ākāraḥ: self-controlled in appearance
• saṃvṛta-ākāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃvṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘संवृतः आकारः यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one whose outward form is restrained/controlled’

• gupta-mantraḥ: secret in counsel
• gupta-mantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (कृदन्त; √gup) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘गुप्तः मन्त्रः यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one whose counsel is secret/kept secret’

• sahāyavān: having allies
• sahāyavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahāya (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having companions/allies’

• amogha-krodha-harṣaḥ: whose anger and joy were effective
• amogha-krodha-harṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amogha (प्रातिपदिक) + krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (क्रोध + हर्ष) इति द्वन्द्व + अमोघ (कर्मधारय-प्रायः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘whose anger and joy are not futile (effective)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• tyāga-saṃyama-kāla-vit: knowing when to renounce and when to restrain
• tyāga-saṃyama-kāla-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyāga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyama (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)→vit (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: (त्याग + संयम) इति द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष ‘कालं वेत्ति’ → kāla-vit; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of the proper time for renunciation and restraint’

Context

He (Rama) was modest and did not reveal his inner feelings. He counselled in secrecy and had good friends. Never was his anger or pleasure in vain. He knew the occasion when to sacrifce and when to exercise restraint.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is timely self-governance: emotions and power must be purposeful (amogha), guided by discretion, and expressed at the proper time as either generosity or restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The text emphasizes qualities needed for governance—confidential counsel, reliable allies, and disciplined emotional expression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured discretion: controlled speech and emotion, and knowing when to be firm versus when to yield.