Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.48: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 48

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Setting: AyodhyāPlaces named: Rāma’s residence (dyutimad vema)Palace court to chariot to Rāma’s residence

Devanagari script

अथाऽभिवाद्य राजानं रथमारुह्य राघवः ॥४८॥

ययौ स्वं द्युतिमद्वेश्म जनौघैः प्रतिपूजितः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.48

Transliteration

athābhivādya rājānaṁ ratham āruhya rāghavaḥ ||48||

yayau svaṁ dyutimad veśma janaughaiḥ pratipūjitaḥ |

Translation

Darauf erwies Rāghava dem König seine Ehrerbietung, bestieg den Wagen und fuhr zu seiner strahlenden Wohnstatt, von den Menschenmengen geehrt.

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Word by Word

• te: they
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)

• api: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)

• paurāḥ: citizens
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• nṛpateḥ: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• vacaḥ: speech, proclamation
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• tat: that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वचः)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• śrutvā: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)
• Role: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tathā: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (so, thus)
• Role: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• lābham: a gain
• Type: Noun
• Root: lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमेय-प्रयोगः
• Role: Upameya (उपमेय)

• iva: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय
• Role: Upamāna-marker (उपमानसूचक)

• iṣṭam: dear, desired
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लाभम्—प्रियवत्)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• āśu: immediately
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/शीघ्रता-अव्यय (quickly, immediately)
• Role: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• narendram: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: narendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘नराणाम् इन्द्रः’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• āmantrya: having taken leave of
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-mantr (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having taken leave/asked permission’
• Role: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• gṛhāṇi: homes
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/गन्तव्य), बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• gatvā: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having gone’
• Role: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• devān: the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• samānarcuḥ: worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-arc (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• ati-prahṛṣṭāḥ: overjoyed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + prahṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः—‘अति’ + ‘प्रहृष्ट’ (very delighted); विशेषणम् (पौराः)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

Sandhi Notes

• वचस्तच्छृत्वा = वचः तत् श्रुत्वा
• लाभमिवेष्टम् = लाभम् इव इष्टम्
• नरेन्द्रमामन्त्र्य = नरेन्द्रम् आमन्त्र्य
• समानर्चुः = सम् + आनर्चुः (समार्च्-धातोः लिट्)

Context

Having paid his obeisance to the king, Rama ascended the chariot amidst the acclaim of multitudes of men and left for his splendid abode.

The teaching

Even at the height of public honor, the righteous begin with reverence to elders; humility anchors authority.

Ethical theme

Sadācāra / pit-dharma

For your practice

Models daily practice of vandana to parents/elders before undertaking tasks; cultivates vinaya.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Gāra

Mood

Regal, orderly, celebrated

Themes

• Maryada
• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Public honor

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Daśaratha
• ratha (chariot)

FAQs

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

Maryādā and respect for elders: Rāma’s salutation to the king exemplifies disciplined conduct and truthful alignment with social and royal duty.

What is the narrative situation?

After the court proceedings, Rāma respectfully takes leave and returns home amid public acclaim.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s humility and propriety, shown by honoring his father-king before departing.