Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.44: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 44

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Addressed to King DaśarathaSetting: AyodhyāPlaces named: trailokya (conceptual realm), mahī (earth)

Devanagari script

प्रजापालनतत्त्वज्ञो न रागोपहतेन्द्रियः ॥४४॥

शक्तस्त्रैलोक्यमप्येको भोक्तुं किन्नु महीमिमाम् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.44

Transliteration

prajāpālana-tattvajño na rāgopahatendriyaḥ ||44||

śaktas trailokyam apy eko bhoktuṃ kinnu mahīm imām |

Translation

彼は民を護る真理を知り、欲により諸根を損なわれない。ひとりで三界すら治め得るのだから、ましてこの大地など言うまでもない。

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• prajāpālanatattvajñaḥ: knower of the principles of ruling/protecting subjects
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prajā + pālana + tattva + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘knower of the principles of protecting subjects’
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)
• Role: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)

• rāgopahatendriyaḥ: one whose senses are not overpowered by passion
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāga + upahata + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘whose senses are overpowered by passion’ (here negated)
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• śaktaḥ: capable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √śak)
• Form: Past participle/adjectival (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu (द्विगु) ‘three worlds’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Dvigu

• api: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)
• Role: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)

• ekaḥ: alone, single
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)

• bhoktum: to enjoy/possess
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable verbal (अव्यय)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• kinnu: why then?/what need to say
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim + nu (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative-exclamatory particle (किं नु)
• Role: Prayojaka/Particle (निपात)

• mahīm: earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• imām: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally (सर्वनाम-विशेषण), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• trailokyamapyeko → trailokyam api ekaḥ

Context

He is proficient in the ways and means of ruling the people. His senses are not overpowered by passion. He alone is capable of ruling the three worlds, what to speak the earth!

The teaching

Fitness to rule is grounded in prajā-welfare knowledge and conquest of desire; self-governance legitimizes governance of the world.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / indriya-nigraha

Devotion and practice

Inspires inner kingship practice: restrain senses, act for welfare; useful for daily sankalpa before work/leadership roles.

Deity praised

Rāma (as dharmic sovereign)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Majestic, self-controlled, assuring

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Ethics
• Self-control
• Maryada

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

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

Competent and desire-free governance: mastery over passion is presented as essential to just protection of subjects.

What is the narrative situation?

The ministers argue that Rāma is supremely qualified to rule because he combines political wisdom with inner restraint.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vairāgya-like restraint within kingship: senses not dominated by rāga (passion), enabling impartial rule.