Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 14

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

नचानृतकथो विद्वान् वृद्धानां प्रतिपूजकः ।

अनुरक्तः प्रजाभिश्च प्रजाश्चाप्यनुरञ्जते ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.14

Transliteration

na cānṛta-katho vidvān vṛddhānāṃ pratipūjakaḥ |

anuraktaḥ prajābhiś ca prajāś cāpy anurañjate ||14||

Translation

അവൻ ഒരിക്കലും അസത്യം പറയുകയില്ല; പണ്ഡിതനായി മുതിർന്നവരെ യഥാവിധി ആദരിച്ചിരുന്നു. ജനങ്ങൾ അവനെ സ്നേഹിച്ചു; അവനും ജനങ്ങളെ സന്തോഷിപ്പിച്ച് സ്നേഹത്തോടെ പരിപാലിച്ചു.

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Word by Word

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

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

• अनृतकथः: one who speaks falsehood
• अनृतकथः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृत-कथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: अनृतं कथयति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• विद्वान्: learned
• विद्वान्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वृद्धानाम्: of elders
• वृद्धानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• प्रतिपूजकः: one who duly honors
• प्रतिपूजकः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-पूजक (प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-ण्वुल् (agent noun)

• अनुरक्तः: beloved / attached
• अनुरक्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अनु-√रञ्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• प्रजाभिः: by the subjects
• प्रजाभिः: करण/कर्ता (Agent-like; by the subjects)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

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

• प्रजाः: the subjects
• प्रजाः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also)

• अनुरञ्जते: delights / wins over
• अनुरञ्जते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

Rama never told lies. He was a learned man. He honoured elders by going forward to them. He loved his subjects as much as his subjects loved him.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• vṛddha (elders)
• prajā (subjects)

FAQs

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

Satya and respectful conduct: truthfulness and reverence toward elders sustain social trust; a ruler’s bond with subjects is mutual and dharmic.

What is the narrative situation?

A character sketch of Rāma continues, emphasizing his truthfulness, learning, and relationship with elders and citizens.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truth), guru-vṛddha-sammāna (honouring elders), and prajā-rañjana (winning subjects’ hearts through care).