Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 8

जाबाल्युपदेशः

Jabali’s Pragmatic Counsel to Rama

Devanagari script

समृद्धायामयोध्यायामात्मानमभिषेचय।एकवेणीधरा हि त्वां नगरी सम्प्रतीक्षते।।।।

Transliteration

samṛddhāyām ayodhyāyām ātmānam abhiṣecaya | ekaveṇīdharā hi tvāṃ nagarī sampratīkṣate ||

Translation

Return to prosperous Ayodhyā and have yourself consecrated as king. The city, like a chaste wife wearing a single braid, waits for you—her lord.

Word by Word

• samṛddhāyām: in prosperous
• samṛddhāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; qualifying ayodhyāyām

• ayodhyāyām: in Ayodhyā
• ayodhyāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ātmānam: yourself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• abhiṣecaya: get consecrated/crowned
• abhiṣecaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘have (yourself) consecrated’ accepted in usage

• ekaveṇīdharā: wearing a single braid
• ekaveṇīdharā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka + veṇī + dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (एकां वेणीं धरतीति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying nagarī

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• nagarī: the city
• nagarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• sampratīkṣate: awaits
• sampratīkṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-prati-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Context

Go back to that prosperous city of Ayodhya and get yourself coronated. That city is a chaste woman wearing a single braid of hair awaiting you, her lord.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The verse frames kingship as a dharmic duty: the rightful ruler should accept consecration for the welfare and stability of the kingdom, which is portrayed as devotedly awaiting him.

What is the narrative situation?

Jābāli urges the exiled Rāma to return to Ayodhyā and accept coronation, using emotive imagery of the city waiting like a faithful wife.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as the rightful lord and protector is highlighted—implying the virtue of responsibility to subjects (prajā-rakṣaṇa) and rājadharma.