Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 33

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

तमेवं व्रतसम्पन्नमप्रधृष्यपराक्रमम्।।।।लोक पालोपमं नाथमकामयत मेदिनी।

Transliteration

tam evaṃ vratasampannam apradhṛṣyaparākramam | lokapālopamaṃ nātham akāmayata medinī |

Translation

Melihatnya demikian—kaya akan kebajikan tapa-brata dan berani tak tertandingi—Bumi sendiri merindukannya sebagai tuannya, setara para Lokapāla, penjaga penjuru arah.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (pronoun)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय

• व्रत-सम्पन्नम्: endowed with vows/virtues
• व्रत-सम्पन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अप्रधृष्य-पराक्रमम्: of indomitable valor
• अप्रधृष्य-पराक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रधृष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (whose prowess is unassailable); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लोक-पाल-उपमम्: comparable to the world-guardians
• लोक-पाल-उपमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नाथम्: lord
• नाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अकामयत: desired
• अकामयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मेदिनी: the earth
• मेदिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The earth desired him as her lord, for he was bestowed with such avowed virtues and with indomitable prowess equal to all the guardians of the quarters.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Earth (Medinī)
• Lokapālas (guardians of directions)

FAQs

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

When virtue is steady (vrata) and power is restrained by righteousness, sovereignty becomes legitimate—so much so that the Earth is poetically said to accept such a ruler.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration elevates Rāma’s suitability for kingship to a cosmic metaphor: the very Earth ‘wants’ him as ruler.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vowed integrity (vratasampatti) joined with indomitable courage.