Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 16

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

यद्यप्येषा मम प्रीतिर्हितमन्यद्विचिन्त्यताम् ।

अन्या मध्यस्थचिन्ता हि विमर्दाभ्यधिकोदया ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.16

Transliteration

yady apy eṣā mama prītiḥ hitam anyad vicintyatām |

anyā madhyastha-cintā hi vimardābhy adhikodayā ||16||

Translation

ಇದು ನನಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದರೂ, ಹಿತಕರವಾದ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಮಾರ್ಗವನ್ನೂ ಚಿಂತಿಸಬೇಕು; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ನಿರಪೇಕ್ಷ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಮಧ್ಯಸ್ಥ ವಿಚಾರಣೆ, ವಿಮರ್ಶೆಯಿಂದ, ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಲಾಭವನ್ನು ತರುತ್ತದೆ.

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Word by Word

• yadi: if/though
• yadi: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/conditional particle (सम्बन्ध-निपात)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive 'even'

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun qualifying prītiḥ

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītiḥ: preference/liking
• prītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hitam: welfare; what is beneficial
• hitam: Karta (कर्ता) of vicintyatām
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'welfare/benefit' as subject of vicintyatām

• anyat: another/alternative
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying hitam

• vicintyatām: let it be considered
• vicintyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (वि + चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट् कर्मणि), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); 'let it be considered'

• anyā: another
• anyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying cintā

• madhyastha-cintā: impartial counsel
• madhyastha-cintā: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyastha (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'impartial deliberation/opinion'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), indeed/for

• vimardāt: from discussion/deliberation
• vimardāt: Apādāna (अपादान) (source: from deliberation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimarda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhyadhikā: greater
• abhyadhikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying udayā

• udayā: benefit arises
• udayā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'arising/benefit' (contextual)

Context

Although this is what I would like to do, please suggest alternative ways of achieving the welfare (of this kingdom). Deliberations by the unbiased (on this issue) may bring good.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Impartial deliberation is dharmic decision-making: personal preference should yield to what best serves collective welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha explicitly invites unbiased debate and alternative proposals, even against his own preference.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fair-mindedness and commitment to the common good over personal desire.