Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 24

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः

Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

सत्यप्रतिज्ञं पितरं राजानं पश्य राघव।अद्यैव हि त्वां धर्मात्मा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.24

Transliteration

satyapratijñaṃ pitaraṃ rājānaṃ paśya rāghava |

adyaiva hi tvāṃ dharmātmā yauvarājye 'bhiṣekṣyati ||

Translation

Oh Rāghava, contempla a tu padre, el rey, fiel a su promesa; pues ese justo te consagrará hoy mismo como yuvarāja.

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Word by Word

• सत्य-प्रतिज्ञम्: true to his promise
• सत्य-प्रतिज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to पितरम्/राजानम्); समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘सत्यं प्रतिज्ञा यस्य’

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राजानम्: king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पितरम् इत्यस्य विशेषणवत् (apposition)

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (time-adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, explanatory)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (addressed), द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous one (king)
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘धर्मः आत्मा यस्य’

• यौवराज्ये: in the heir-apparent status
• यौवराज्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवराज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अभिषेक्ष्यति: will consecrate/crown
• अभिषेक्ष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

O scion of the Raghu race! see the king, your righteous and truthful father, who will consecrate you as prince-regent today itself.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Daśaratha (the king, father)
• yauvarājya
• abhiṣeka

FAQs

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

Satya is central: a king’s integrity—truthfulness to his pledged word—is presented as the foundation of righteous rule.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā joyfully anticipates Rāma’s consecration as prince-regent and points to Daśaratha’s reputation for keeping his promise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s satyapratijñā (fidelity to vows) and the ideal that governance must be anchored in truth and dharma.