Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 26

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

सत्सङ्ग्रहप्रग्रहणे स्थानविन्निग्रहस्य च।आयकर्मण्युपायज्ञ स्सन्दृष्टव्ययकर्मवित्।।।।

Transliteration

sat-saṅgraha-pragrahaṇe sthāna-vin nigrahasya ca | āya-karmāṇy upāya-jñaḥ sandṛṣṭa-vyaya-karma-vit ||

Translation

Ia terampil menghimpun dan menguatkan orang-orang saleh, dan juga mengekang para pelanggar—mengetahui tempat dan kadar yang tepat bagi penertiban itu. Dalam urusan pemasukan negara ia paham upaya-upayanya, dan dalam pengeluaran ia mengetahui tata cara yang semestinya serta dapat dipertanggungjawabkan.

Word by Word

• sat-saṅgraha-pragrahaṇe: in supporting and encouraging the good
• sat-saṅgraha-pragrahaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅgraha (प्रातिपदिक) + pragrahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (बहुपद) ‘सतां सङ्ग्रहः’ + ‘प्रग्रहण’ (encouragement/acceptance); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in receiving and encouraging the good’

• sthāna-vit: knower of proper measures
• sthāna-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)→vit (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘स्थानं वेत्ति’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of proper place/occasion/means’

• nigrahasya: of restraint
• nigrahasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of restraint/punishment’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• āya-karmaṇi: in revenue administration
• āya-karmaṇi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘आयस्य कर्म’ (revenue-work); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in revenue matters’

• upāya-jñaḥ: knower of means
• upāya-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक) + jñā (धातु)→jña (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘उपायं जानाति’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of means’

• sandṛṣṭa-vyaya-karma-vit: knowing proper expenditure procedures
• sandṛṣṭa-vyaya-karma-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sandṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √dṛś) + vyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)→vit (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (बहुपद) ‘सन्दृष्टः (नियतः/विहितः) व्ययकर्म’ + vit; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of expenditure as prescribed/inspected’

Context

He was skilled in receiving and encouraging the righteous and in punishing (the wicked). He knew whom to punish. He knew the right means of raising revenue and also expending money in the prescribed manner.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in rulership includes ethical administration: protect and promote the good, restrain harm with proper measure, and handle public wealth through rightful revenue methods and responsible expenditure.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration frames Rāma not only as personally virtuous but as practically competent in governance, including discipline and fiscal management.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsible statecraft—measured punishment, support of the virtuous, and financial prudence aligned with justice.