Valmiki Ramayana 2.17.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 9

रामस्य राजमार्गगमनम्

Rama’s Progress along the Royal Highway

Devanagari script

यथास्म पोषिताः पित्रा यथा सर्वैः पितामहैः।।।।ततस्सुखतरं रामे वत्स्यामस्सति राजनि।

Transliteration

yathā sma poṣitāḥ pitrā yathā sarvaiḥ pitāmahaiḥ |

tataḥ sukhataram rāme vatsyāmaḥ sati rājani ||

Translation

„Wie wir unter deinem Vater und unter all deinen Vorfahren behütet wurden, so werden wir—wenn Rāma König wird—noch glücklicher leben.“

Word by Word

• alam: enough
• alam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (enough)

• adya: today
• adya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम्

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (indeed/for)

• bhuktena: with food (eaten things)
• bhuktena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhukta (कृदन्त; √bhuj (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं (that which is eaten/food)

• paramārthaiḥ: with highest aims (of life)
• paramārthaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• alam: enough
• alam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम्

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

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-रूपम्, बहुवचनम् (Dat/Gen pl: 'for us/our')

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तवाचक-अव्ययम् (if)

• paśyāma: we might see
• paśyāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रायः इच्छार्थे; लट्-लकारे उत्तम-पुरुषः बहुवचनम् (we may see / if we could see); परस्मैपदम्

• niryāntam: going forth (in procession)
• niryāntam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√yā (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तं वर्तमान-कृदन्तम्, पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रामम् इति विशेषणम्

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• rājye: in the kingdom
• rājye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• pratiṣṭhitam: enthroned
• pratiṣṭhitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√sthā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तं भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम्, पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रामम् इति विशेषणम् (enthroned/established)

Context

Once Rama assumes kingship, we shall all live in happiness greater than when we were ruled by his father and grandfather.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma as welfare-oriented kingship: righteous rule is measured by the protection and flourishing of subjects, rooted in truthful continuity of good governance.

What is the narrative situation?

The people express confidence that Rāma’s reign will surpass even the prosperity experienced under Daśaratha and earlier kings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Benevolent leadership—Rāma is trusted as a protector who increases collective well-being.