Shloka 25

Devanagari script

कथं नु मयि धर्मेण पृथिवीमनुशासति।भवन्तो द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ति युवराजं ममात्मजम्।।2.2.25।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ nu mayi dharmeṇa pṛthivīm anuśāsati |

bhavanto draṣṭum icchanti yuvarājaṃ mamātmajam || 2.2.25 ||

Translation

Wenn ich die Erde gemäß dem Dharma regiere, warum also wünscht ihr, meinen Sohn als Yuvarāja (Thronerben) eingesetzt zu sehen?

Word by Word

तेthey

तम्him

ऊचुःsaid

महात्मानम्great-souled

पौरजानपदैःwith townsmen and villagers

सहtogether with

बहवःmany

नृपO king

कल्याणाःexcellent/auspicious

गुणाःqualities

पुत्रस्यof (your) son

सन्तिare

तेyour

Context

When the earth is being ruled righteously by me why indeed you intend to see my son as prince regent?

Characters & Entities

Daśaratha

Rāma (implied as “my son”)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as present good governance: Daśaratha implies that succession should be justified by the kingdom’s welfare, not mere impatience. The verse invites ethical reasoning about when and why power should be transferred.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha questions the assembly’s urgency, noting that his current rule is dharmic, and asks their rationale for installing the heir now.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s self-awareness and accountability—he measures the request against the standard of dharmic administration.