Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 17

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Setting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

इति ब्रुवन्तं मुदिताः प्रत्यनन्दन्नृपा नृपम् ।

वृष्टिमन्तं महामेघं नर्दन्त इव बर्हिणः ॥१७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.17

Transliteration

iti bruvantaṃ muditāḥ pratyanandan nṛpā nṛpam |

vṛṣṭimantaṃ mahāmeghaṃ nardanta iva barhiṇaḥ ||17||

Translation

Als er so sprach, jubelten die Könige dem König freudig zu, wie Pfauen, die beim Anblick einer großen, regenbringenden Wolke rufen.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणार्थक particle (quotative/thus)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)

• ब्रुवन्तम्: speaking (him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शतॄ) ‘ब्रुवत्’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; object-qualifying participle
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मुदिताः: delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित (प्रातिपदिक; √मुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of nṛpāḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• प्रत्यनन्दन्: applauded/acclaimed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• नृपाः: kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• नृपम्: the king (Daśaratha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वृष्टिमन्तम्: rain-bearing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष्टि + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of mahāmegham)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• महामेघम्: a great cloud
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महा + मेघ; कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Upamana (उपमान)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• नर्दन्तः: crying/roaring
• Type: Verb
• Root: नर्द् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘नर्दत्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (of barhiṇaḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (comparative particle)
• Role: Upamana (उपमान-सूचक)

• बर्हिणः: peacocks
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Upamana (उपमान)

Sandhi Notes

• ब्रुवन्तं (bruvantam) + मुदिताः
• प्रत्यनन्दन् + नृपाः (word order)
• महामेघं (mahāmegham) as karmadhāraya
• नर्दन्त इव = नर्दन्तः इव (visarga sandhi)

Context

Having thus heard king Dasaratha speak, the kings acclaimed him with delight, like peacocks crying (in joy) to see thick clouds.

The teaching

When leadership aligns with dharma and public good, collective joy arises naturally—like peacocks responding to the promise of rain.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma

For your practice

Cultivates gratitude and auspicious perception (maṅgala-dṛṣṭi): recognize signs of harmony when decisions serve the common good.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Hasya (humour)

Mood

Exultant, resonant, auspicious

Themes

• Itihāsa
• Public approval
• Auspicious response
• Dharma (collective assent)

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Peacocks (barhiṇaḥ)
• Rain-cloud (mahāmegha)

FAQs

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

When a decision aligns with dharma and public welfare, it naturally draws harmonious consent from the community of leaders.

What is the narrative situation?

The assembled kings respond with enthusiastic approval to Daśaratha’s proposal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective discernment and supportive solidarity in a dharmic political act.