Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 23

पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः — Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival

Bālakāṇḍa 18

Devanagari script

तेषां केतुरिव ज्येष्ठो रामो रतिकर: पितु:।।।।बभूव भूयो भूतानां स्वयम्भूरिव सम्मत:।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ ketur iva jyeṣṭho rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ ||

babhūva bhūyo bhūtānāṁ svayambhūr iva sammataḥ ||

Translation

Parmi eux, l’aîné, Rāma, se dressa tel un étendard ; il apporta une joie plus grande à son père et, tel Svayambhū (Brahmā), il fut tenu en haute estime par les êtres vivants.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Vedas
• वेदविदः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'vedaṃ vetti' = knower of Veda); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वे इति विशेषणम्

• शूराः: heroic
• शूराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वे इति विशेषणम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• लोकहिते: in the welfare of the people
• लोकहिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (कृदन्त; √धा/√हि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'lokasya hitam' = welfare of the world/people); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• रताः: devoted
• रताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (कृदन्त; √रम्)
• Form: क्त (PPP) 'engaged/devoted'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वे इति विशेषणम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञानोपसम्पन्नाः: endowed with knowledge
• ज्ञानोपसम्पन्नाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + उपसम्पन्न (कृदन्त; √पद्/√सम्+पद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'jñānena upasampannāḥ' = endowed with knowledge); उपसम्पन्न = क्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• समुदिताः: abounding (in)
• समुदिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + इ (धातु) → समुदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (PPP) 'risen/possessed/abounding'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गुणैः: with virtues
• गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

Among them, Rama like the exalted flag, became dear to his father like Brahma he was highly respected by all living beings.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• bhūtas (living beings)

FAQs

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

True worth naturally becomes a ‘standard’ for society: dharmic conduct wins trust and reverence not by force but by intrinsic integrity and beneficence.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator begins describing Rāma’s preeminence among the four princes and the affection and respect he inspires.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s innate excellence and his ability to bring joy and confidence to others—especially his father and the wider world.