Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 39

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

महीमहमिमां कृत्स्नामधितिष्ठन्तमात्मजम् ॥३९॥

अनेन वयसा दृष्ट्वा यथास्वर्गमवाप्नुयाम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.39

Transliteration

mahīm aham imāṃ kṛtsnām adhitiṣṭhantam ātmajam ||39||

anena vayasā dṛṣṭvā yathā svargam avāpnuyām |

Translation

„Wenn ich in diesem Alter meinen Sohn als Herrscher über diese ganze Erde eingesetzt sehen dürfte, wäre es, als hätte ich den Himmel erlangt.“

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Word by Word

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्स्नाम्: entire
• कृत्स्नाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘entire’ (agreeing with महीम्)

• अधितिष्ठन्तम्: ruling/occupying
• अधितिष्ठन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; ‘ruling/occupying’

• आत्मजम्: son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः जः)

• अनेन: by/with this
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by/with this’

• वयसा: with (this) age
• वयसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• यथा: so that/as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner/comparison ‘so that/as’

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयाम्: may I attain
• अवाप्नुयाम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

'Seeing my son ruling this entire dominion of the earth, I will experience the bliss of attaining heaven at this age.'

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Earth (Mahī)
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma links personal fulfillment with public order: the king’s peace comes from ensuring righteous governance continues after him.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha expresses urgency to witness the successful transfer of rule to Rāma while he still lives.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of responsibility toward orderly succession and the kingdom’s stability.