Shloka 12

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः

Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Devanagari script

राम वृद्धोऽस्मि दीर्घायुर्भुक्ता भोगा मयेप्सिताः।अन्नवद्भिः क्रतुशतै स्तथेष्टं भूरिदक्षिणैः।।2.4.12।।

Transliteration

rāma vṛddho 'smi dīrghāyur bhuktā bhogā mayepsitāḥ | annavadbhiḥ kratuśataiḥ tathā iṣṭaṃ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ || 2.4.12 ||

Translation

«Rāma, he vivido largo tiempo y he envejecido. He gozado de los placeres que deseé, y he realizado cientos de sacrificios (yajñas), ricos en alimento y abundantes en dádivas (dakṣiṇā)».

Word by Word

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• वृद्धः: old
• वृद्धः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अहम्-विशेषणम्

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• दीर्घायुः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः दीर्घम् आयुः यस्य सः = दीर्घायुः (बहुव्रीहि)

• भुक्ताः: enjoyed
• भुक्ताः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘enjoyed’ (bhogāḥ…bhuktāḥ)

• भोगाः: pleasures
• भोगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (करण/कर्तृ), एकवचन

• ईप्सिताः: desired
• ईप्सिताः: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle from √आप् with desiderative sense ‘desired’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भोगानां विशेषणम्

• अन्नवद्भिः: with abundant food
• अन्नवद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्नवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; क्रतुशतानां विशेषणम् ‘with plenty of food’

• क्रतुशतैः: by hundreds of sacrifices
• क्रतुशतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः शतं क्रतवः = क्रतुशत (द्विगु)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार (also/likewise)

• इष्टम्: (sacrifices) were performed
• इष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sacrifice was performed’ (impersonal)

• भूरिदक्षिणैः: with abundant gifts (fees)
• भूरिदक्षिणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः भूरिः दक्षिणा यस्मिन्/येषु ते = भूरिदक्षिण (बहुव्रीहि), क्रतुशतानां विशेषणम्

Context

O Rama! after a long life I have grown old. I have enjoyed all the pleasures I desired. I have also performed hundreds of rituals which enjoined distribution of abundant food and gifts.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It highlights life-stage dharma: after fulfilling worldly and ritual obligations, a ruler turns toward orderly succession and duty to the future.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha begins explaining to Rāma why he is ready to pass responsibilities onward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability and honesty—Daśaratha truthfully assesses his age and completed duties.