Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 25

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

कथं नु मयि धर्मेण पृथिवीमनुशासति।भवन्तो द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ति युवराजं ममात्मजम्।।2.2.25।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ nu mayi dharmeṇa pṛthivīm anuśāsati |

bhavanto draṣṭum icchanti yuvarājaṃ mamātmajam || 2.2.25 ||

Translation

我が身がダルマに従って大地を治めているのに、なぜ汝らは我が子をユヴァラージャ（皇太子）として立てるのを望むのか。

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• महात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महा + आत्मन्; कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of tam)

• पौरजानपदैः: with townsmen and villagers
• पौरजानपदैः: Sahakarana (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर + जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakarana (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of guṇāḥ)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कल्याणाः: excellent/auspicious
• कल्याणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of guṇāḥ)

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पुत्रस्य: of (your) son
• पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• सन्ति: are
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; enclitic possessive ‘your’

Context

When the earth is being ruled righteously by me why indeed you intend to see my son as prince regent?

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma (implied as “my son”)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as present good governance: Daśaratha implies that succession should be justified by the kingdom’s welfare, not mere impatience. The verse invites ethical reasoning about when and why power should be transferred.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha questions the assembly’s urgency, noting that his current rule is dharmic, and asks their rationale for installing the heir now.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s self-awareness and accountability—he measures the request against the standard of dharmic administration.