Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.34: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 34

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

देवासुरमनुष्याणां सर्वास्त्रेषु विशारदः ।

सम्यग्विद्याव्रतस्नातो यथावत्साङ्गवेदवित् ॥३४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.34

Transliteration

devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṁ sarvāstreṣu viśāradaḥ |

samyag vidyāvratasnāto yathāvat sāṅgavedavit ||34||

Translation

દેવ, અસુર અને મનુષ્યોમાં પ્રચલિત સર્વ શસ્ત્રોમાં તે વિશારદ છે; વિદ્યાના વ્રતોને યથાવત્ પૂર્ણ કરી સ્નાત છે અને સાંગ વેદોને યોગ્ય રીતે જાણે છે.

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Word by Word

• deva-asura-manuṣyāṇām: of gods, demons, and men
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (Dvandva; देवाश्च असुराश्च मनुष्याश्च), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Compound: Dvandva

• sarva-astreṣu: in all weapons
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya; सर्वाणि अस्त्राणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• viśāradaḥ: expert
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)

• samyak: properly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकारार्थ (properly)
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)

• vidyā-vrata-snātaḥ: having completed the vow/discipline of learning
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक) + snāta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; विद्यायाः व्रते स्नातः = vow-rite completed), भूतकृदन्त (PPP from √snā), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• yathāvat: duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), 'duly/as prescribed'
• Role: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)

• sāṅga-veda-vit: knower of the Veda with its auxiliaries
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + vit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; साङ्गं वेदं वेत्ति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• devāsuramanuṣyāṇām = deva + asura + manuṣyāṇām (dvandva with vowel sandhi)
• samyagvidyā- = samyak + vidyā- (k before v -> g by sandhi in recitation)
• yathāvatsāṅga- = yathāvat + sāṅga- (t + s -> ts)

Context

He is an expert in wielding all kinds of weapons available to devas, asuras and men. He has achieved mastery over all sciences and has appropriately acquired knowledge of the Vedas and its ancillary sciences.

The teaching

True kṣatriya excellence unites martial mastery with Vedic discipline; power is legitimized by learning and restraint.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma/education

Devotion and practice

Inspires balanced sādhana: study (svādhyāya) alongside disciplined action; remembrance of Rāma as dharma-guided strength.

Deity praised

Rama

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Accomplished, formidable, learned

Themes

• Dharma
• Kshatriya Dharma
• Education
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• devas
• asuras
• humans
• Veda
• Vedāṅgas

FAQs

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

Kṣatriya dharma requires both power and restraint: mastery of weapons must be grounded in disciplined learning and Vedic ethical formation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma’s qualifications are presented as comprehensive—martial competence and scriptural education—supporting his legitimacy in public life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent preparedness: skill (astra-viśārada) integrated with disciplined study (vidyā-vrata, sāṅga-veda).