Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 20

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा नागरा स्सर्वे कृद्धा राजानमब्रुवन्।असमञ्जं वृणीष्वैकमस्मान्वा राष्ट्रवर्धन।।।।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā nāgarāḥ sarve kṛddhā rājānam abruvan | asamañjaṃ vṛṇīṣvaikam asmān vā rāṣṭra-vardhana ||2.36.20||

Translation

അതു കണ്ടു നഗരവാസികൾ എല്ലാവരും ക്രോധത്തോടെ രാജാവിനോട് പറഞ്ഞു: “ഹേ രാജ്യവർധന! ഒന്നിനെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക—അസമഞ്ജനെ മാത്രം, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഞങ്ങളെ.”

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), "having seen"

• नागराः: citizens
• नागराः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कृद्धाः: angry
• कृद्धाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• राजानम्: to the king
• राजानम्: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रुवन्: said/spoke
• अब्रुवन्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• असमञ्जम्: Asamañja
• असमञ्जम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असमञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• वृणीष्व: choose
• वृणीष्व: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• एकम्: one (of the two)
• एकम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्पार्थक निपात/alternative particle)

• राष्ट्रवर्धन: O increaser of the kingdom
• राष्ट्रवर्धन: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्रवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राष्ट्रस्य वर्धनः)

Context

Watching it, all the enraged citizens said to the king, 'O enhancer of the prosperity of the kingdom, either you choose Asamanjasa or us'.

Characters & Entities

• Citizens (nāgarāḥ)
• King Sagara
• Asamañja

FAQs

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

Public welfare (praja-hita) is central to kingship: when a ruler tolerates harm by a powerful person, citizens may demand justice, insisting the king protect them over familial attachment.

What is the narrative situation?

Citizens confront the king after witnessing Asamañja’s cruelty, forcing a decisive choice between the offender and the community.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Civic courage and collective insistence on justice—subjects uphold dharma by demanding protection for the innocent.