Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 4

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

राजाऽपि तौ महातेजा स्सस्मार प्रोषितौ सुतौ ।

उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ महेन्द्रवरुणोपमौ ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.4

Transliteration

rājāpi tau mahātejā sasmāra proṣitau sutau |

ubhau bharataśatrughnau mahendravaruṇopamau ||4||

Translation

También el rey resplandeciente Daśaratha recordó a sus dos hijos ausentes—Bharata y Śatrughna—semejantes a Mahendra (Indra) y a Varuṇa.

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Word by Word

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle ‘also’

• tau: those two
• tau: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; object of sasmāra

• mahātejāḥ: greatly radiant
• mahātejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahā-tejāḥ ‘of great splendour’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying rājā

• sasmāra: remembered
• sasmāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• proṣitau: who were away (from home)
• proṣitau: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: proṣita (कृदन्त, क्त) < pra-√vas (धातु)
• Form: Kta participle; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; qualifying sutau

• sutau: (his) two sons
• sutau: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; object in apposition to tau

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; subject-complement/apposition to sutau

• bharataśatrughnau: Bharata and Śatrughna
• bharataśatrughnau: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva: bharata + śatrughna; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana

• mahendrvaruṇopamau: like Mahendra and Varuṇa
• mahendrvaruṇopamau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक) + varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: mahendra-varuṇa-upamau ‘comparable to Mahendra and Varuṇa’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; qualifying bharataśatrughnau

Context

The glorious king Dasaratha also remembered his sons, Bharata and Satrughna, who were like the great Indra and Varuna, (now) away from home.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Varuṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the king’s responsibility to remain mindful of all his children and household duties, even while planning major state decisions.

What is the narrative situation?

As events move toward Rāma’s elevation, Daśaratha recalls that Bharata and Śatrughna are currently away from Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s parental concern and impartial remembrance of his sons.