Valmiki Ramayana 2.20.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 23

अयोध्याकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः · Rama Enters Kauśalyā’s Antaḥpura; Ritual Preparations and the Shock of Exile

Devanagari script

वृद्धानां धर्मशीलानां राजर्षीणां महात्मनाम् ।

प्राप्नुह्यायुश्च कीर्तिं च धर्मं चोपहितं कुले ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.20.23

Transliteration

vṛddhānāṃ dharmaśīlānāṃ rājarṣīṇāṃ mahātmanām |

prāpnuhy āyuś ca kīrtiṃ ca dharmaṃ copahitaṃ kule ||23||

Translation

വൃദ്ധരായ ധർമ്മശീല മഹാത്മ രാജർഷിമാരെപ്പോലെ നീ ദീർഘായുസ്സും കീർത്തിയും പ്രാപിക്കട്ടെ; നിന്റെ കുലത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതമായ ധർമ്മവും ദൃഢമായി പാലിക്കട്ടെ.

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Word by Word

• वृद्धानाम्: of the aged
• वृद्धानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to राजर्षीणाम्/महात्मनाम्)

• धर्म-शीलानाम्: of the virtuous
• धर्म-शीलानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘धर्मे शीलं येषाम्’

• राज-ऋषीणाम्: of the royal sages
• राज-ऋषीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘राजा च ऋषिः’ (royal sage)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• प्राप्नुहि: attain (you)
• प्राप्नुहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आयुः: long life
• आयुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• कीर्तिम्: fame
• कीर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• धर्मम्: righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• उपहितम्: well-established/maintained
• उपहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपहित (कृदन्त; उप+धा/हि धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to धर्मम्)

• कुले: in the lineage
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Context

May you attain long life and fame like those of the aged, virtuous and great rajarsis who upheld the righteousness in the race.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā
• Rāma
• rājarṣi (royal sages)
• kula (Raghu lineage, implied)

FAQs

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

Lineage-dharma is emphasized: one should preserve the inherited standard of righteousness set by exemplary elders and sages.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā blesses Rāma, invoking models of ancient royal sages and the tradition of dharma in their family.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as heir to a moral tradition—worthiness measured by continuity of dharma, not merely power.