Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 7

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा भूमिपालस्य वसिष्ठो द्विजसत्तमः।।।।आदिदेशाग्रतो राज्ञ स्स्थितान्युक्तान् कृताञ्जलीन्।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.7

Transliteration

tac chrutvā bhūmipālasya vasiṣṭho dvijasattamaḥ |

ādi-deśa agrato rājñaḥ sthitān yuktān kṛtāñjalīn ||

Translation

Hearing the king’s words, Vasiṣṭha—the foremost among brahmins—issued instructions to the appointed officials who stood before the king with folded hands.

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Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; श्रुत्वा इति कृदन्तस्य कर्म

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• भूमिपालस्य: of the king (protector of the earth)
• भूमिपालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhūmeḥ pālaḥ)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• द्विजसत्तमः: best of the twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dvijānāṃ sattamaḥ) उपाधि; वसिष्ठः इति विशेषणवत्

• आदिदेश: ordered, directed
• आदिदेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √diś (दिश्) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अग्रतः: in front (of)
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; अग्रतः इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः

• स्थितान्: standing
• स्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (स्था) (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle) स्थित; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; युक्तान् इत्यनेन सह विशेष्य (persons)

• युक्तान्: appointed/attendant counsellors
• युक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; 'appointed/fit (counsellors)'—आदिदेश इति क्रियायाः कर्म (persons ordered)

• कृताञ्जलीन्: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जलीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयप्रायः (kṛtaḥ añjaliḥ yaiḥ); युक्तान् इत्यस्य विशेषण

Context

Hearing the words of the king, Vasistha, best of the brahmins thus ordered the counsellors who stood in front of the king with folded palms:

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha (implied as bhūmipāla/rājā)

FAQs

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

Dharma as rightful delegation and respect for sacred authority: the king’s intent is carried out through the priest’s lawful command and the officials’ disciplined obedience.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha’s request, Vasiṣṭha turns to the assembled officials and begins directing the practical arrangements for the coronation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s leadership and competence—he promptly translates royal intent into organized action.