Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 7

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

स हि देवैरुदीर्णस्य रावणस्य वधार्थिभिः।अर्थितो मानुषे लोके जज्ञे विष्णुस्सनातनः।।।।

Transliteration

sa hi devair udīrṇasya rāvaṇasya vadhārthibhiḥ |

arthito mānuṣe loke jajñe viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ ||

Translation

Pues el eterno Viṣṇu, suplicado por los dioses que anhelaban la muerte del soberbio Rāvaṇa, nació en verdad en el mundo humano (como Rāma).

Word by Word

• सः: he (Rama)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• उदीर्णस्य: of the arrogant/raised-up
• उदीर्णस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-ईर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ईर्/ईर्ण)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• रावणस्य: of Ravana
• रावणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वधार्थिभिः: by those desiring his slaying
• वधार्थिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; समास: वधस्य अर्थिनः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अर्थितः: entreated
• अर्थितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अर्थ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• मानुषे: in the human
• मानुषे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• लोके: world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जज्ञे: was born
• जज्ञे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Context

Entreated by the devatas desirous of slaying arrogant Ravana, the eternal Visnu was indeed born in the mortal world as Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viṣṇu
• devas
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

World-protecting dharma: when adharma becomes oppressive, divine power aligns with truth and righteousness to restore moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator states the cosmic rationale for Rāma’s birth: the devas petition for relief from Rāvaṇa’s tyranny.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as dharma-restorer—an embodiment of satya and protection for the afflicted.