Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.10 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 10

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

स तु नित्यं प्रशान्तात्मा मृदुपूर्वं च भाषते।उच्यमानोऽपि परुषं नोत्तरं प्रतिपद्यते।।।।

Transliteration

sa tu nityaṃ praśāntātmā mṛdu-pūrvaṃ ca bhāṣate | ucyamāno 'pi paruṣaṃ na uttaraṃ pratipadyate ||

Translation

അവൻ എപ്പോഴും പ്രശാന്തചിത്തനായി ആദ്യം മൃദുവായി സംസാരിച്ചു; കഠിനമായി പറഞ്ഞാലും അതിന് കഠിനമായ മറുപടി അവൻ കൊടുത്തില്ല.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• प्रशान्तात्मा: calm-minded
• प्रशान्तात्मा: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: प्रशान्तः आत्मा यस्य/प्रशान्त आत्मा (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्रयोग; here as epithet)

• मृदुपूर्वम्: gently / with softness first
• मृदुपूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृदु-पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• भाषते: speaks
• भाषते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• उच्यमानः: being addressed
• उच्यमानः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (circumstantial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उच्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वच्, कर्मणि शानच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle)

• अपि: even though
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive particle)

• परुषम्: harsh (words)
• परुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; here as object of speech (harsh words)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• उत्तरम्: reply
• उत्तरम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रतिपद्यते: utters / gives (a reply)
• प्रतिपद्यते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

With an unfailing serenity of mind, Rama never paid back harshness with harshness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Forbearance and restraint in speech: dharma is upheld by refusing to mirror another’s harshness, preserving truthfulness and dignity in communication.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator describes Rāma’s character, highlighting his consistent gentleness even under provocation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śama and kṣānti—inner calm and patience, expressed as non-retaliation in speech.