Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.23 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 23

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सुमन्त्रो राजशासनात्।।।।रामं तत्रानयाञ्चक्रे रथेन रथिनां वरम्।

Transliteration

sa tatheti pratijñāya sumantro rājaśāsanāt | rāmaṃ tatrānayāñ cakre rathena rathināṃ varam ||

Translation

Sumantra, yang terunggul antara para sais kereta, berjanji, “Demikianlah,” lalu menurut titah raja ia membawa Rama ke sana dengan kereta, sang terbaik di antara para pahlawan berkereta.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg)

• tathā: so
• tathā: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (so/thus)

• iti: (saying) thus
• iti: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• pratijñāya: having agreed
• pratijñāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having assented/promised'

• sumantraḥ: Sumantra
• sumantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (sg)

• rāja-śāsanāt: by/from the king’s order
• rāja-śāsanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी (Abl), एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष: 'from the king’s command'

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• ānayām: brought
• ānayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nī (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद; periphrastic with cakre: 'caused to be brought/brought'

• cakre: did/caused
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), आत्मनेपद; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary) with ānayām

• rathena: by chariot
• rathena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन (sg)

• rathinām: of charioteers
• rathinām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rathin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), षष्ठी (Gen), बहुवचन (pl)

• varam: the best/excellent
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण to rāmam (as 'best among...') or appositional epithet

Context

In response to the king's command Sumantra, the best of charioteers said, 'so be it' and fetched Rama in a chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha (implied by rājaśāsanāt)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Faithful execution of rightful duty: Sumantra promptly accepts the king’s order and carries it out without delay, showing disciplined service within a moral social order.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha has issued an instruction, and Sumantra goes to bring Rāma to the royal presence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sumantra’s loyalty and reliability—he is swift, obedient, and respectful in service to the king.