Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.44 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 44

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

प्रजापालनतत्त्वज्ञो न रागोपहतेन्द्रियः।।2.2.44।।शक्तस्त्रैलोक्यमप्येको भोक्तुं किन्नु महीमिमाम्।

Transliteration

prajāpālana-tattvajño na rāgopahatendriyaḥ | śaktas trailokyam apy eko bhoktuṃ kinnu mahīm imām || 2.2.44 ||

Translation

Il connaît les vrais principes de la protection du peuple, et ses sens ne sont pas dominés par la passion ; à lui seul, il est capable de régner même sur les trois mondes — que dire alors de cette terre ?

Word by Word

• prajāpālanatattvajñaḥ: knower of the principles of ruling/protecting subjects
• prajāpālanatattvajñaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prajā + pālana + tattva + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘knower of the principles of protecting subjects’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• rāgopahatendriyaḥ: one whose senses are not overpowered by passion
• rāgopahatendriyaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāga + upahata + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘whose senses are overpowered by passion’ (here negated)

• śaktaḥ: capable
• śaktaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √śak)
• Form: Past participle/adjectival (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• trailokyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu (द्विगु) ‘three worlds’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)

• ekaḥ: alone, single
• ekaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhoktum: to enjoy/possess
• bhoktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable verbal (अव्यय)

• kinnu: why then?/what need to say
• kinnu: Prayojaka/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim + nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative-exclamatory particle (किं नु)

• mahīm: earth
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• imām: this
• imām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally (सर्वनाम-विशेषण), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

He is proficient in the ways and means of ruling the people. His senses are not overpowered by passion. He alone is capable of ruling the three worlds, what to speak the earth!

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

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

Competent and desire-free governance: mastery over passion is presented as essential to just protection of subjects.

What is the narrative situation?

The ministers argue that Rāma is supremely qualified to rule because he combines political wisdom with inner restraint.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya-like restraint within kingship: senses not dominated by rāga (passion), enabling impartial rule.