Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 25

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal assembly)

Devanagari script

कथं नु मयि धर्मेण पृथिवीमनुशासति ।

भवन्तो द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ति युवराजं ममात्मजम् ॥२५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.25

Transliteration

kathaṃ nu mayi dharmeṇa pṛthivīm anuśāsati |

bhavanto draṣṭum icchanti yuvarājaṃ mamātmajam ||25||

Translation

ನಾನು ಧರ್ಮಾನುಸಾರವಾಗಿ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಆಳುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ, ನೀವು ಏಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮಜ ಪುತ್ರನನ್ನು ಯುವರಾಜನಾಗಿ ನೋಡಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೀರಿ?

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Word by Word

• ते: they
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तम्: him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• ऊचुः: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महा + आत्मन्; कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of tam)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• पौरजानपदैः: with townsmen and villagers
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर + जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Sahakarana (सहकारक)
• Compound: Dvandva

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय
• Role: Sahakarana (सहकारक)

• बहवः: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of guṇāḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• नृप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• कल्याणाः: excellent/auspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्याण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of guṇāḥ)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• गुणाः: qualities
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• पुत्रस्य: of (your) son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• सन्ति: are
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• ते: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; enclitic possessive ‘your’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

Sandhi Notes

• तमूचुः = तम् ऊचुः
• पौरजानपदैस्सह = पौरजानपदैः सह (visarga→s before s)

Context

When the earth is being ruled righteously by me why indeed you intend to see my son as prince regent?

The teaching

A ruler must balance present competence with future stability; succession should be justified by dharma and prajā-hita, not impulse.

Duties in tension

• Duty to continue personal reign as long as capable vs. duty to ensure smooth succession and public confidence
• King’s self-assessment of dharmic governance vs. subjects’ desire for an even more ideal future ruler

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / governance continuity

How it resolves

Dialogic clarification (seeking reasons grounded in dharma and public good)

For your practice

Invites reflection on svadharma: doing one’s role well while preparing responsibly for transition.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Principled, questioning, authoritative

Themes

• Dharma
• Rājadharma
• Succession ethics
• Itihāsa
• Satya (probing motives)

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma (implied as “my son”)

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as present good governance: Daśaratha implies that succession should be justified by the kingdom’s welfare, not mere impatience. The verse invites ethical reasoning about when and why power should be transferred.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha questions the assembly’s urgency, noting that his current rule is dharmic, and asks their rationale for installing the heir now.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s self-awareness and accountability—he measures the request against the standard of dharmic administration.