Valmiki Ramayana 2.36.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 4

अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s orders for Rama’s escort; Kaikeyi’s fear; the Asamañjasa precedent

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhyā (palace/administrative space)Pre-departure arrangements for exile entourage

Devanagari script

ये चैनमुपजीवन्ति रमते यैश्च वीर्यतः ।

तेषां बहुविधं दत्त्वा तानप्यत्र नियोजय ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.36.4

Transliteration

ye cainam upajīvanti ramate yaiś ca vīryataḥ |

teṣāṃ bahuvidhaṃ dattvā tān apy atra niyojaya ||4||

Translation

അവനെ സേവിച്ച് ജീവിച്ചവർക്കും, അവൻ വീര്യത്തോടെ ക്രീഡിച്ചിരുന്ന ധീരയുവാക്കൾക്കും പലവിധ ദാനങ്ങൾ നൽകി, അവരെയും ഇവിടെ (ഈ അനുചരസംഘത്തിൽ) നിയോഗിക്കണം.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• ye: those who
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st), Plural
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• enam: him (Rama)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• upajīvanti: live by / depend on
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + jīv (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural; with upasarga upa-
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• ramate: he enjoys/sports
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• yaiḥ: with whom
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Puṃliṅga, Instrumental (3rd), Plural
• Role: Sahakari (सहकारी/associates)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• vīryataḥ: because of valor
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत्): vīryāt; expresses 'by reason of valor'
• Role: Hetu (हेतु/cause)

• teṣām: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Genitive (6th), Plural
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• bahu-vidham: many kinds (of gifts)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: many kinds; Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of dattvā (what is given)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• dattvā: having given
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा) from √dā; 'having given'
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• tān: them
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• api: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• atra: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/context)

• niyojaya: employ/assign
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + yuj (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; causative sense 'appoint/engage'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• cainam = ca + enam
• yaiśca = yaiḥ + ca
• tānapyatra = tān + api + atra

Context

Bestow immense wealth on those who depended on Rama for their living and on the gallant youths with whom he used to sport. Send them along with the entourage.

The teaching

Even amid unjust outcomes, responsibility toward dependents is acknowledged through dāna and orderly appointment.

Duties in tension

• Care for dependents vs political exile imposed on their patron
• Loyalty to rightful heir vs obedience to palace command

Ethical theme

Vyavahāra-dharma (social/administrative duty)

How it resolves

Administrative mitigation (material support)

For your practice

Practice of dāna and responsible stewardship; reflection on serving dharma over mere command.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Mobilizing, pragmatic, strained

Themes

• Dharma
• Royal duty
• Patronage
• Social responsibility

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsibility toward dependents: those sustained by a leader should not be abandoned; they are to be supported with gifts and rightful placement.

What is the narrative situation?

Arrangements are being made regarding who should accompany or be assigned in connection with Rāma, including those tied to him by service and companionship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective kingship and generosity—ensuring livelihoods and honoring loyal associates through appropriate support.