Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 4

अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः

Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined

Devanagari script

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः।स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम्।।2.5.3।।उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः।ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः।।2.5.4।।

Transliteration

upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravan mantrakovidaḥ |

brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktam āsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ ||

Translation

真言に通じ、誓戒に堅固なる彼は、よく整えられた、婆羅門にふさわしい最上の車に乗り、聖なる句を伴ってラーマに定めの斎戒を行わせようとした。

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine Nominative Singular

• rāma-bhavanam: Rama’s residence
• rāma-bhavanam: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karma destination (गत्यर्थकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘Rama’s house’

• prāpya: having reached
• prāpya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + āp (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय), from √prāp (प्राप्), ‘having reached’

• pāṇḍura-abhra-ghana-prabham: shining like a mass of pale clouds
• pāṇḍura-abhra-ghana-prabham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura + abhra + ghana + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Neuter Accusative Singular; multi-member descriptive compound qualifying ‘bhavanam’: ‘having the radiance of a mass of pale clouds’

• tisraḥ: three
• tisraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective, Feminine Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन)

• kakṣyāḥ: courtyards/enclosures
• kakṣyāḥ: Karma (कर्म) (extent traversed/entered)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन)

• rathena: by chariot
• rathena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

• eva: indeed; itself
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• viveśa: entered
• viveśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + viś (धातु)
• Form: Verb, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada; from √vi-viś (विविश्)

• muni-sattamaḥ: the foremost sage
• muni-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘best of sages’

Context

On seeing Vasistha the king descended from the throne and enquired whether he had performed the mission to which the ascetic replied affirmatively.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Rāma
• Mantra (sacred formulae)
• Ratha (chariot)
• Upavāsa (fast)

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined preparation for sacred duty: fasting and mantra-guided rites cultivate purity, restraint, and truth-aligned intention before major life and state transitions.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha sets out with ritual readiness to instruct Rāma to observe a fast as part of the impending ceremonial proceedings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast observance (vrata), ritual competence, and responsible guidance by a guru/priest are highlighted.