Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.44: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 44

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

आत्मनश्च प्रजानां च श्रेयसे च प्रियेण च ॥४४॥

प्राप्तकालेन धर्मात्मा भक्त्या त्वरितवान् नृपः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.44

Transliteration

ātmanaś ca prajānāṁ ca śreyase ca priyeṇa ca ||44||

prāptakālena dharmātmā bhaktyā tvaritavān nṛpaḥ |

Translation

Demi kebaikan dirinya dan kesejahteraan rakyatnya, serta kerana kasih sayang dan keprihatinan, raja yang berjiwa dharma—melihat waktunya telah tiba—segera bergegas dengan bhakti yang tulus.

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Word by Word

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-पूर्वपद)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘various’ as pre-member in compound

• नगरवास्तव्यान्: city-dwellers
• नगरवास्तव्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर + वास्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नगरे वास्तव्याः)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘separately’

• जानपदान्: people of the countryside
• जानपदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• समआनिनाय: summoned
• समआनिनाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘summoned/brought together’

• मेदिन्याः: of the earth
• मेदिन्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• प्रधानान्: chief/leading
• प्रधानान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘chief’ (qualifying पृथिवीपतीन्)

• पृथिवीपतीन्: kings
• पृथिवीपतीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्याः पतयः)

Context

Longing for it, the noble king realized that the time was ripe for the acceleration of the process of safeguarding his own and his subjects' welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Subjects (prajā)

FAQs

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

A king’s dharma is prajā-hita—acting at the right time for the people’s welfare, not merely personal preference. Timely action is part of righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha feels urgency to proceed with a major decision/process (the coronation preparations contextually), believing the time is appropriate.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility and foresight—he prioritizes collective welfare and acts without delay when duty calls.