Shloka 2.1.50

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः (Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent)

Devanagari script

सलब्धमानैर्विनयान्वितैर्नृपैःपुरालयैर्जानपदैश्च मानदैः।उपोपविष्टैर्नृपतिर्वृतो बभौसहस्रचक्षुर्भगवानिवामरैः।।।।

Transliteration

sarva eva tu tasyeṣṭāś catvāraḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ |

svaśarīrād vinirvṛttāś catvāra iva bāhavaḥ ||

Translation

To him, all four sons—those best of men—were equally dear, like four arms that had arisen from his own body.

Context

Surrounded by those feudatory kings endowed with modesty, and received with due honour and by the respectful residents of cities and villages, the king (Dasaratha), resembled lord Indra, the thousand- eyed encircled by the gods.ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে অযোধ্যাকাণ্ডে প্রথমস্সর্গঃ৷Thus ends the first sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Bharata
• Śatrughna

FAQs

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

Fairness within the family: a father’s dharma includes impartial affection and responsibility toward all children, not favoritism.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Daśaratha’s relationship with his sons, establishing the family harmony that frames later tensions in the story.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Parental equanimity and integrity—love expressed as equal regard, aligned with satya (truthful, consistent conduct).