Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.42 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 42

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः

Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Devanagari script

इत्येवमुक्तो मात्रेदं रामो भ्रातरमब्रवीत्।प्राञ्जलिं प्रह्वमासीनमभिवीक्ष्य स्मयन्निव।।2.4.42।।

Transliteration

ity evam ukto mātrā idaṃ rāmo bhrātaram abravīt | prāñjaliṃ prahvam āsīnam abhivīkṣya smayann iva || 2.4.42 ||

Translation

母にこのように告げられると、ラーマは、合掌してうやうやしく座す弟を見やり、柔らかな微笑みをたたえるかのように、次の言葉を語った。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyopasamhara (वाक्योपसंहार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय; quotative particle

• एवम्: in this manner
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• उक्तः: addressed/spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (with rāmaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘having been spoken to’

• मात्रा: by (his) mother
• मात्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by mother’

• इदम्: this (speech)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; object of abravīt

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular

• भ्रातरम्: to (his) brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperfect ‘said’

• प्राञ्जलिम्: with folded palms
• प्राञ्जलिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; adjective to āsīnam ‘with folded hands’

• प्रह्वम्: humbly bowed
• प्रह्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; adjective to āsīnam ‘humble/bowed’

• आसीनम्: sitting
• आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of abhivīkṣya)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP used as present state), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘sitting’

• अभिवीक्ष्य: having looked at
• अभिवीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having looked at’

• स्मयन्: smiling
• स्मयन्: Karta (कर्ता) (concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘smiling’ (agreeing with rāmaḥ)

• इव: as if
• इव: Upama (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Context

Thus spoken to by his mother, Rama looked at his brother Lakshmana sitting humbly with folded palms and with a smile said to him:

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through respectful family relations—humility in the younger brother and considerate regard from the elder.

What is the narrative situation?

After Kausalya’s blessings, Rama turns to Lakshmana, noticing his humble posture, and begins to address him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and readiness to serve (Lakshmana), and affectionate leadership (Rama).