Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 19

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

तमेवं गुणसम्पन्नं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ।।।।ज्येष्ठं श्रेष्ठगुणैर्युक्तं प्रियं दशरथस्सुतम् ।प्रकृतीनां हितैर्युक्तं प्रकृतिप्रियकाम्यया ।।।।यौवराज्येन संयोक्तुमैच्छत्प्रीत्या महीपति: ।

Transliteration

tam evaṃ guṇasampannaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam | jyeṣṭhaṃ śreṣṭhaguṇair yuktaṃ priyaṃ daśarathas sutam | prakṛtīnāṃ hitair yuktaṃ prakṛtipriyakāmyayā | yauvarājyena saṃyoktum aicchat prītyā mahīpatiḥ ||

Translation

Voyant ainsi Rāma, comblé de vertus — dont la vaillance reposait sur la vérité —, l’aîné, paré des plus nobles qualités et cher fils de Daśaratha ; attaché au bien du peuple et désireux de ce qui lui plaît, le seigneur de la terre, par amour, voulut l’établir dans le yuvārājya, comme héritier du trône.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म) — object of ‘ऐच्छत्’/‘संयोक्तुम्’
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — manner adjunct
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• गुण-सम्पन्नम्: endowed with virtues
• गुण-सम्पन्नम्: Karma (कर्म) — object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + सम्पन्न (कृदन्त; √पद् with सम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘गुणैः सम्पन्नम्’

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म) — object (apposition to ‘तम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्य-पराक्रमम्: of unfailing valor
• सत्य-पराक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म) — object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक); पराक्रम (head)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सत्यः पराक्रमः यस्य’ (true/never-failing valor)

• ज्येष्ठम्: eldest
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म) — object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठ-गुणैः: with excellent virtues
• श्रेष्ठ-गुणैः: Karana (करण) — instrumental with ‘युक्तम्’ (endowed with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ + गुण (प्रातिपदिक); गुण (head)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘श्रेष्ठाः गुणाः’

• युक्तम्: endowed (with)
• युक्तम्: Karma (कर्म) — object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): ‘endowed/connected’

• प्रियम्: beloved
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म) — object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दशरथस्य: of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive (‘of Daśaratha’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म) — object in apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक; from √सू ‘to beget’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रकृतीनाम्: of the subjects
• प्रकृतीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive (‘of the subjects/citizens’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• हितैः: with beneficial (deeds)
• हितैः: Karana (करण) — instrumental with ‘युक्तम्’
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘beneficial acts/things’

• युक्तम्: endowed (with)
• युक्तम्: Karma (कर्म) — object-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• प्रकृति-प्रिय-काम्यया: by desire for the subjects’ welfare
• प्रकृति-प्रिय-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु) / Karana (करण) — motive/instrument (‘out of desire for subjects’ welfare’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति + प्रिय + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक; from √कम् with यत्/ण्यत् sense ‘desiring’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रकृतीनां प्रियं कामयते’ इति (by the desire for what is dear to the subjects = their welfare)

• यौवराज्येन: with the heir-apparent status
• यौवराज्येन: Karana (करण) — means (‘with the office of heir-apparent’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौवराज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• संयोक्तुम्: to install/appoint
• संयोक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन) — purpose of ‘ऐच्छत्’
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √युज् (धातु) → संयोक्तुम् (तुमुन्)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); ‘to join/appoint/install’

• ऐच्छत्: wished
• ऐच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया) — main verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु) → ऐच्छत्
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु) / Karana (करण) — cause (‘out of affection’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महीपतिः: the king (lord of the earth)
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता) — subject of ‘ऐच्छत्’
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मही (earth) + पति (lord)’

Context

With a desire to promote the welfare of the people king Dasaratha decided to install Sri Rama, his eldest and affectionate son as heir (apparent) who was bestowed with all excellent qualities and true prowess, beloved of the people he was ever intent in the welfare of the people.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Yauvarājya (heir-apparent office)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma: a king should choose leadership based on virtue, truth-grounded valor, and commitment to the people’s welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Within Nārada’s synopsis, Daśaratha, pleased by Rāma’s virtues and public-mindedness, resolves to install him as heir-apparent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public-spirited virtue: acting for the subjects’ good (prakṛtīnāṃ hita) and truth-aligned courage (satya-parākrama).