Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 16

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Spoken by Dasharatha to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

अद्य प्रकृतयस्सर्वास्त्वामिच्छन्ति नराधिपम् ।

अतस्त्वां युवराजानमभिषेक्ष्यामि पुत्रक ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.16

Transliteration

adya prakṛtayaḥ sarvāḥ tvām icchanti narādhipam |

atas tvāṁ yuvarājānam abhiṣekṣyāmi putraka ||16||

Translation

Heute wünschen alle meine Untertanen dich als König; darum, mein lieber Sohn, werde ich dich als Thronerben weihen.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• adya: today
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)

• prakṛtayaḥ: subjects / citizens
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• sarvāḥ: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of prakṛtayaḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• icchanti: desire / wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• narādhipam: as king / lord of men
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpurusha: 'men's lord'), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• ataḥ: therefore
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ-अव्यय (therefore)
• Role: Hetu (हेतुः)

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• yuvarājānam: as heir-apparent / crown prince
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuvarāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abhiṣekṣyāmi: I will consecrate
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ṣic (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• putraka: dear son
• Type: Noun
• Root: putraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; स्नेह-संबोधन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)

Sandhi Notes

• prakṛtayassarvāstvāmicchanti = prakṛtayaḥ + sarvāḥ + tvām + icchanti
• atastvāṅ = ataḥ + tvām
• yuvarājānamabhiṣekṣyāmi = yuvarājānam + abhiṣekṣyāmi

Context

Today all the subjects expresed their desire to see you as their king. Therefore, my dear son, I wish to coronate you heir-apparent.

The teaching

A king should heed the welfare and will of the people and install a worthy successor to ensure stability and dharma in the realm.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / prajā-hita

For your practice

Invites contemplation of Rāma as dharma-incarnate fit to be desired by all; supports bhakti through remembering his readiness to serve as ideal ruler.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Auspicious, public-spirited, anticipatory

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Kingship
• Succession

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: a king should align succession and governance with the welfare and consensus of the people, and with righteous fitness for rule.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha tells Rāma that the citizens desire Rāma as their ruler and announces his intention to consecrate him as Yuvarāja.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of duty and responsiveness to public welfare, expressed through a lawful and ceremonial transfer of responsibility.