Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 24

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā (assembly)

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वैव वचनं यन्मे राघवं पतिमिच्छथ ।

राजान स्संशयोऽयं मे किमिदं ब्रूत तत्त्वतः ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.24

Transliteration

śrutvaiva vacanaṃ yan me rāghavaṃ patim icchatha |

rājānaḥ saṃśayo ’yaṃ me kim idaṃ brūta tattvataḥ ||24||

Translation

諸王よ、我が言葉を聞くや、汝らはラグ族のラーマを主（王）と望んだ。だが我が胸に疑いが起こる。真実を語れ――それは汝らの最奥の確信から出たものか。

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Word by Word

• कथम्: how/why
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how/why)
• Role: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• नु: indeed (interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक particle
• Role: Sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)

• मयि: when I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/with regard to me’
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• धर्मेण: righteously
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; manner/instrument
• Role: Karana (करण)

• पृथिवीम्: the earth/kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अनुशासति: governs/rules
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √शास् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• भवन्तः: you (sirs)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; honorific 2nd-person pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• इच्छन्ति: wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• युवराजम्: the prince-regent
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• मम: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• आत्मजम्: son
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: आत्मनः जः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to yuvarājam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• पृथिवीमनुशासति = पृथिवीम् अनुशासति
• द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ति = द्रष्टुम् इच्छन्ति
• ममात्मजम् = मम आत्मजम्

Context

O kings!, soon after listening to my words, all of you wish Rama to be king. (But) I doubt (in my mind) whether you have said it from your heart৷৷

The teaching

Dharma in governance requires removing doubt through truthful counsel before transferring authority.

Duties in tension

• Continuity of governance under the reigning king vs. timely designation of an heir for stability
• Personal paternal affection vs. impartial state prudence

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / succession ethics

How it resolves

Deliberative inquiry (seeking truthful consensus)

For your practice

Encourages satya and clarity of intention (saṅkalpa-śuddhi) before major life decisions.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Probing, earnest, truth-seeking

Themes

• Satya
• Dharma
• Royal ethics
• Public consent
• Itihāsa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Raghu (dynastic reference)

FAQs

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

Satya as a pillar of dharma: Daśaratha asks for truthful, heartfelt counsel. Governance should not rest on flattery or haste but on sincere, verified intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to the proposal for Rāma’s kingship by questioning whether the request is genuinely meant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth-testing and responsible decision-making in matters of succession.