Shloka 2.2.3
यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः (Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent)
दुन्दुभिस्वनकल्पेन गम्भीरेणानुनादिना।
स्वरेण महता राजा जीमूत इव नादयन्।।2.2.2।।
राजलक्षणयुक्तेन कान्तेनानुपमेन च।
उवाच रसयुक्तेन स्वरेण नृपतिर्नृपान्।।2.2.3।।
dundubhisvanakalpena gambhīreṇānunādinā |
svareṇa mahatā rājā jīmūta iva nādayan || 2.2.2 ||
With a great voice—deep and resonant, echoing like a kettledrum—thundering like a cloud, the king spoke forth.
Lord of men (king Dasaratha) addressed the feudatory kings with words deep, resonant, loud like the kettledrum or the rumbling cloud, in a delightful, incomparable and attractive voice that carried all the dignity of royalty:
The verse frames royal speech as a public instrument of order: the king’s authoritative voice signals governance and the dharmic duty to address the assembly clearly and powerfully.
Before the king’s formal address, the narration depicts Daśaratha’s commanding voice as he prepares to speak in the royal gathering.
Royal gravitas and authority—dignified presence expressed through a voice compared to drum and thundercloud.