Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.2-3: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shlokas 2-3
यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः
Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent
Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal court/durbar)
दुन्दुभिस्वनकल्पेन गम्भीरेणानुनादिना ।
स्वरेण महता राजा जीमूत इव नादयन् ॥२॥
राजलक्षणयुक्तेन कान्तेनानुपमेन च ।
उवाच रसयुक्तेन स्वरेण नृपतिर्नृपान् ॥३॥
dundubhi-svana-kalpena gambhīreṇānunādinā |
svareṇa mahatā rājā jīmūta iva nādayan ||2||
rāja-lakṣaṇa-yuktena kāntena anupamena ca |
uvāca rasa-yuktena svareṇa nṛpatir nṛpān ||3||
ದುಂದುಭಿಯ ನಾದದಂತೆ ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರತಿಧ್ವನಿಸುವ ಮಹಾಸ್ವರದಿಂದ ರಾಜ ದಶರಥನು ನಾದಿಸಿದನು—ಮೇಘಸಮೂಹ ಗರ್ಜಿಸುವಂತೆ.
Sandhi Notes
- गम्भीरेणानुनादिना → गम्भीरेण + अनुनादिना
- राजलक्षणयुक्तेन → राज + लक्षण + युक्तेन
- कान्तेनानुपमेन → कान्तेन + अनुपमेन
- नृपतिर्नृपान् → नृपतिः + नृपान्
Lord of men (king Dasaratha) addressed the feudatory kings with words deep, resonant, loud like the kettledrum or the rumbling cloud, in a delightful, incomparable and attractive voice that carried all the dignity of royalty:
The teaching
A rulerşs speech should be both powerful and measuredits gravity sustains order and inspires confidence.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma / satya-vākya
For your practice
Encourages disciplined speech (vāk-saskāra): depth without harshness, authority without ego.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Majestic, resonant, authoritative
Themes
- Dharma
- Rājadharma
- Maryādā
- Itihāsa
- Satya
- Kingship
- Public assembly
Vāk as a manifesting power (śakti) parallels the Upaniṣadic elevation of speech as a limb of order (vāg-indriya) when aligned with satya.
Taittirīya Upaniṣad śikṣāvallī: satyaṃ vada, dharmaṃ caraş—royal speech should be truthful and dharmic.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.2.3 (paired description of Daśarathaşs speech qualities); Mahābhārata: descriptions of royal voice likened to clouds/drums in sabhā scenes
Vedic imagery of dundubhi and parjanya (thunder) as auspicious proclamation
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa: Daśarathaşs public announcements regarding succession
Anuṣṭubh
Commanding
Gambhīra (lower register) with strong nyāsa at pāda ends
FAQs
The verse foregrounds rājadharma: a king’s public speech should embody dignity, restraint, and clarity. Daśaratha’s royal, measured voice signals responsible governance and the ethical weight of decisions taken before an assembly.
In Ayodhyā’s court assembly, King Daśaratha begins addressing the gathered rulers; this sets the stage for the public deliberations that will lead to the proposal of Rāma’s installation as prince regent.
Daśaratha’s majesty and kingship-competence: composure, gravitas, and the ability to communicate with authoritative yet pleasing speech—qualities expected of a righteous ruler.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
