Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 24

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

दृढभक्ति स्स्थिरप्रज्ञो नासद्ग्राही न दुर्वचाः ।

निस्तन्द्रिरप्रमत्तश्च स्वदोषपरदोषवित् ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.24

Transliteration

dṛḍha-bhaktiḥ sthira-prajño nāsad-grāhī na durvacāḥ |

nistandrir apramattaś ca sva-doṣa-para-doṣa-vit ||24||

Translation

Fest in Hingabe und standhaft im Verstehen nahm er nichts Unedles an und sprach keine harten Worte. Frei von Trägheit und niemals nachlässig kannte er die eigenen Fehler wie auch die der anderen.

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Word by Word

• dṛḍha-bhaktiḥ: firmly devoted
• dṛḍha-bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘दृढा भक्तिः यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘firm in devotion’

• sthira-prajñaḥ: steady-minded
• sthira-prajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक) + prajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘स्थिरा प्रज्ञा यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘steady-minded’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• asat-grāhī: one who accepts what is ignoble
• asat-grāhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + grah (धातु)→grāhin (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘असत् गृह्णाति’ → grāhī; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who accepts the ignoble’ (negated)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• durvacāḥ: harsh-spoken
• durvacāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-vac (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘harsh-spoken/using bad words’ (negated)

• nistandriḥ: free from sloth
• nistandriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis-tandrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘free from sloth’

• apramattaḥ: vigilant
• apramattaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-pramatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘not careless/alert’

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

• sva-doṣa-para-doṣa-vit: knowing his own and others’ faults
• sva-doṣa-para-doṣa-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक) + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)→vit (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: (स्वदोष + परदोष) इति द्वन्द्व + vit; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of his own and others’ faults’

Context

He was firm in his devotion and steady in intellect. He accepted nothing ignoble nor used bad words. He was not swayed by emotions or prone to idleness. He knew his faults as well as of others.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is inner vigilance: devotion and steady intelligence express themselves as ethical speech, refusal of ignoble choices, and honest self-assessment.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration highlights Rāma’s personal discipline—traits that make him trustworthy as a moral exemplar and ruler.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control in speech and conduct, paired with reflective awareness of both self and others.