Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.52: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 52

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Setting: अयोध्या (implied domestic/temple spaces)

Devanagari script

स्त्रियो वृद्धास्तरुण्यश्च सायं प्रातस्समाहिताः ।

सर्वान् देवान् नमस्यन्ति रामस्यार्थे यशस्विनः ॥५२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.52

Transliteration

striyo vṛddhās taruṇyaś ca sāyaṃ prātas samāhitāḥ |

sarvān devān namasyanti rāmasyārthe yaśasvinaḥ ||52||

Translation

Kaum wanita—yang tua dan yang muda—pada senja dan fajar, dengan hati yang khusyuk, menunduk menyembah semua dewa demi Rama yang termasyhur.

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Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• आयाचितम्: the request; prayer
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyācita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ+√yāc (याच्) क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; 'that which is requested/prayed for'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• देव: O lord (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular; address to king
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• त्वत्प्रसादात्: by your grace
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; 'by/through your grace'
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• समृद्ध्यताम्: may it be fulfilled
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√ṛdh (ऋध् धातु)
• Form: Imperative/benedictive sense (लोट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular; passive/impersonal wish 'let it be fulfilled'
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• रामम्: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of 'पश्यामः'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इन्दीवरश्यामम्: dark like a blue lotus
• Type: Adjective
• Root: indīvara + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with 'रामम्'
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्मणि विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम्: destroyer of all enemies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + śatru + nibarhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with 'रामम्'
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्मणि विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• पश्यामः: we shall see
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• यौवराज्यस्थम्: installed in the regency
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yauvarājya + stha (प्रातिपदिक; √sthā (स्था) क्त/स्थ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with 'रामम्'
• Role: Karma-anvaya (कर्मणि विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• तव: your
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• राजोत्तमात्मजम्: your son, best of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja + uttama + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to 'रामम्'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• तेषामायाचितम् = तेषाम् + आयाचितम्
• त्वत्प्रसादात्समृद्ध्यताम् = त्वत्प्रसादात् + समृद्ध्यताम्
• राममिन्दीवरश्यामम् = रामम् + इन्दीवरश्यामम्

Context

Women, young and old alike devoutly invoke at dusk and at dawn all the gods for the sake of the celebrated Rama.

The teaching

Focused devotion at liminal times (dawn/dusk) channels personal piety into public good—prayer becomes a civic virtue.

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / bhakti-yukta loka-sevā

Devotion and practice

Model for sandhyā-time prayer with a clear saṅkalpa; encourages steadiness (samāhita) and compassionate intention.

Deity praised

sarva-devatāḥ (all gods) for Rāma’s sake

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Devout, tender, ritual

Themes

• Dharma
• Bhakti in civic life
• Public welfare prayers
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Civic dharma expressed as prayer: society supports righteous leadership through collective spiritual practice, seeking the protector’s well-being as a pathway to common good.

What is the narrative situation?

The verse reports widespread devotional acts performed for Rama’s welfare, reflecting public endorsement of his future rule.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s yaśas (honored reputation), implying merit accumulated through truthfulness and righteousness.