Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 8

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

कौशल्या शुशुभे तेन पुत्रेणामिततेजसा।यथा वरेण देवानामदितिर्वज्रपाणिना।।।।

Transliteration

kauśalyā śuśubhe tena putreṇāmitatejasā |

yathā vareṇa devānām aditir vajrapāṇinā ||

Translation

カウシャリヤーは無量の光威をもつその御子によって輝いた。まさにアディティが、雷霆を執る神々の最勝インドラによって輝くがごとく。

Word by Word

• कौशल्या: Kausalya
• कौशल्या: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शुशुभे: shone / looked splendid
• शुशुभे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तेन: by him
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुत्रेण: by (her) son
• पुत्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अमिततेजसा: of boundless splendor
• अमिततेजसा: विशेषण (Adjectival to पुत्रेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: अमितं तेजः यस्य/अमितं तेजः (कर्मधारय) used as epithet

• यथा: as / like
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/उपमान (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable)

• वरेण: by the excellent one
• वरेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अदितिः: Aditi
• अदितिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; of implied verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वज्रपाणिना: by the thunderbolt-wielder (Indra)
• वज्रपाणिना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र-पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: वज्रः पाणौ यस्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

Kausalya looked splendid with her son, Rama of boundless energy, as did Aditi with the chief of the gods Indra, wielder of thunder.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma
• Aditi
• Indra (Vajrapāṇi)

FAQs

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

Dharma as auspicious lineage and responsibility: the radiance of a virtuous child reflects on the parent and signals a destiny oriented toward protecting truth and righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator poetically describes Kauśalyā’s splendour due to Rāma’s presence, using a divine comparison to convey auspicious greatness.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tejas guided by dharma—Rāma’s ‘splendour’ is not mere power, but a moral force aligned with satya.