Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.24 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 24

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वैव वचनं यन्मे राघवं पतिमिच्छथ।राजान स्संशयोऽयं मे किमिदं ब्रूत तत्त्वतः।।2.2.24।।

Transliteration

śrutvaiva vacanaṃ yan me rāghavaṃ patim icchatha |

rājānaḥ saṃśayo ’yaṃ me kim idaṃ brūta tattvataḥ || 2.2.24 ||

Translation

O Könige, kaum hattet ihr meine Worte vernommen, da wünschtet ihr, dass Rāma aus dem Geschlecht der Raghu Herr (König) sei. Doch erhebt sich in mir ein Zweifel: sagt mir wahrhaftig — entspringt dies eurer innersten Überzeugung?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how/why
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how/why)

• नु: indeed (interrogative)
• नु: Sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक particle

• मयि: when I
• मयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/with regard to me’

• धर्मेण: righteously
• धर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; manner/instrument

• पृथिवीम्: the earth/kingdom
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुशासति: governs/rules
• अनुशासति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवन्तः: you (sirs)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; honorific 2nd-person pronoun

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• इच्छन्ति: wish
• इच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• युवराजम्: the prince-regent
• युवराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• आत्मजम्: son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: आत्मनः जः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to yuvarājam

Context

O kings!, soon after listening to my words, all of you wish Rama to be king. (But) I doubt (in my mind) whether you have said it from your heart৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Raghu (dynastic reference)

FAQs

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

Satya as a pillar of dharma: Daśaratha asks for truthful, heartfelt counsel. Governance should not rest on flattery or haste but on sincere, verified intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to the proposal for Rāma’s kingship by questioning whether the request is genuinely meant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth-testing and responsible decision-making in matters of succession.