Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 6

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

तेषामपि महातेजा रामो रतिकरःपितुः।स्वयम्भूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः।।।।

Transliteration

teṣām api mahātejā rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ |

svayambhūr iva bhūtānāṃ babhūva guṇavattaraḥ ||

Translation

അവരിൽ മഹാതേജസ്സുള്ള രാമൻ പിതാവിന് ആനന്ദകാരകനായി; സ്വയംഭൂ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങൾക്ക് എങ്ങനെയോ, അങ്ങനെ ഗുണങ്ങളിൽ ഏറ്റവും ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായി നിലകൊണ്ടു।

Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; ‘among/of them’

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle ‘also’

• mahātejā: of great splendour
• mahātejā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahā-tejāḥ; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying rāmaḥ

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ratikaraḥ: source of delight
• ratikaraḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ratiṃ karoti iti ‘giver of delight’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective

• pituḥ: for (his) father
• pituḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive of relation (for his father)

• svayambhūḥ: the Self-born (Brahmā)
• svayambhūḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayambhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; Brahmā; used as standard in simile

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile marker

• bhūtānām: of living beings
• bhūtānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; genitive of relation ‘of beings’

• babhūva: became/was
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• guṇavattaraḥ: more virtuous
• guṇavattaraḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; comparative degree (तर/‘more’)

Context

Even among them the brilliant Rama was a source of delight to his father like the Self-born (Brahma) to all living beings.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)

FAQs

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

Dharma as inner excellence: true worth is measured by guṇa (virtue) that benefits others—Rāma’s character becomes a source of joy and stability.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator highlights Rāma’s preeminence among the brothers, explaining why he is especially cherished and later considered for royal responsibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Guṇavattā (abundance of virtues)—ethical excellence aligned with satya and benevolence.