Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.32-33: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shlokas 32-33
यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः
Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent
Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhya
मृदुश्च स्थिरचित्तश्च सदा भव्योऽनसूयकः ।
प्रियवादी च भूतानां सत्यवादी च राघवः ॥३२॥
बहुश्रुतानां वृद्धानां ब्राह्मणानामुपासिता ।
तेनास्येहाऽतुला कीर्तिर्यशस्तेजश्च वर्धते ॥३३॥
mṛduś ca sthiracittaś ca sadā bhavyo 'nasūyakaḥ |
priyavādī ca bhūtānāṁ satyavādī ca rāghavaḥ ||32||
bahuśrutānāṁ vṛddhānāṁ brāhmaṇānām upāsitā |
tenāsyehātulā kīrtir yaśas tejaś ca vardhate ||33||
ព្រះរាឃវៈទន់ភ្លន់ និងមានចិត្តមាំមួន ជានិច្ចសុភាពរាបសារ និងគ្មានចិត្តច嫉; ព្រះองค์និយាយពាក្យផ្អែមល្ហែមចំពោះសត្វទាំងឡាយ និងនិយាយតែសច្ចៈ។ ព្រះองค์គោរពបម្រើព្រះព្រាហ្មណ៍ចាស់ជរា ដែលបានស្តាប់សាស្ត្រច្រើន; ដូច្នេះ កេរ្តិ៍ឈ្មោះ យស និងពន្លឺតេជៈដ៏មិនអាចប្រៀបបានរបស់ព្រះองค์ ក្នុងលោកនេះ ក៏កើនឡើងជានិច្ច។
Sandhi Notes
- mṛduśca = mṛduḥ + ca (visarga before c -> ś)
- bhavyo'nasūyakaḥ = bhavyaḥ + anasūyakaḥ (visarga-lopa before vowel)
This son of the Raghus (Rama) is soft-spoken, steadfast, always serene, truthful and free from envy. He is pleasing to all beings. He serves those elderly brahmins versed in many lores. With these virtues his incomparable glory, fame and splendour have steadily grown.
The teaching
Speak truth with gentleness, honor the learned elders, and fame follows as a byproduct of character—not as an aim.
- Ethical theme
- Sadācāra/social dharma
Devotion and practice
Practice of satya-priya-vāk and guru-vandana as daily disciplines; suitable for morning reflection.
- Deity praised
- Rama
- Form of praise
- Stuti (a hymn of praise)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Gracious, upright, venerating
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Ethics
- Guru-Seva
- Social Harmony
Sevā to the wise as a means to viveka and inner refinement; tejas as inner luminosity manifesting outwardly.
Taittirīya Upaniṣad Śikṣāvallī resonance: satyaṃ vada, dharmaṃ cara; reverence to teachers/elders.
- Rama and All beings
- Benevolent speech/pleasing address (kind)
Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.11 (satyaṃ vada, dharmaṃ cara); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.1 (Rāma as satyavākyaḥ, priya-darśanaḥ); Rāmacaritamānasa (Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa: Rāma’s vinaya and guru-bhakti motifs)
Smṛti ideals: satya-priya-hita speech triad (truth, pleasantness, benefit)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa 2.2 continuation: fame grows from service to brāhmaṇas and elders
Anuṣṭup (Śloka)
Narrative
Madhyama (middle register)
FAQs
Dharma is practiced through truthful and kind speech, humility before elders, and service to learned brāhmaṇas—virtues that generate lasting social trust and rightful fame.
The speaker continues a public characterization of Rāma, highlighting both his interpersonal conduct and his reverence for learned elders.
Priyavāda joined to satyavāda—speech that is both truthful and beneficial—supported by respect for tradition and learning.
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