Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.3-4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shlokas 3-4

अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः

Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined

Narrated by ValmikiSetting: AyodhyaPlaces named: Rama's residence

Devanagari script

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः ।

स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम् ॥३॥

उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः ।

ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.5.3-4

Transliteration

tatheti ca sa rājānamuktvā vedavidāṃ varaḥ |

svayaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavānyayau rāmaniveśanam ||3||

upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravanmantrakovidaḥ |

brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktamāsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ ||4||

Translation

Berkata 'Demikianlah' kepada raja, Vasistha yang diberkati, yang terutama di kalangan para pengetahuan Veda, mahir dalam mantra dan teguh dalam ikrar, sendiri pergi ke kediaman Rama, menaiki kereta yang terbaik layak bagi seorang brahmin, yang dikerjakan dengan kuda, untuk mengarahkan Rama menjalani puasa yang disertai mantra.

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Word by Word

• tathā: so; thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (रीति/प्रकार)
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• iti: (saying) ‘so’
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, quotative particle
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/quotative marker)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• saḥ: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine Nominative Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• rājānam: to the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘uktvā’)

• uktvā: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), from √vac (वच्)
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/पूर्वकाल)

• vedavidām: of the knowers of the Vedas
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedavid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural (बहुवचन)
• Role: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• varaḥ: the best
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; apposition to ‘vasiṣṭhaḥ’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (appositional)

• svayam: personally
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic adverb
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasistha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• bhagavān: venerable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective used substantively, Masculine Nominative Singular; honorific
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• yayau: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Verb, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada; from √yā (या)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• rāma-niveśanam: to Rama’s dwelling
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + niveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘Rama’s residence’
• Role: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karma destination (गत्यर्थकर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• upavāsayitum: to make (him) fast
• Type: Verb
• Root: upavās (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Infinitive (तुमुन्), Causative sense ‘to make (someone) fast’; from √upavās (उपवास्)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)

• rāmam: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• mantravat: with mantras
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mantravat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Avyaya, adverbial -वत् form (वत्-प्रत्यय), ‘with/according to mantras’
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• mantra-kovidaḥ: skilled in mantras
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘skilled in mantras’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• brāhmam: befitting a Brahmin
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Neuter Accusative Singular; agrees with ‘rathavaram’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• ratha-varam: the best chariot
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘excellent chariot’
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘āsthāya’)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• yuktam: harnessed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), from √yuj (युज्), Neuter Accusative Singular; agrees with ‘rathavaram’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• āsthāya: having mounted
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय), from √ā-sthā (आस्था), ‘having mounted/ascended’
• Role: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/पूर्वकाल)

• sudṛḍha-vrataḥ: firm in vows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + dṛḍha + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘one whose vow is very firm’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

Sandhi Notes

• tathēti = tathā + iti
• rājānamuktvā = rājānam + uktvā
• bhagavānyayau = bhagavān + yayau
• rāmaniveśanam = rāma + niveśanam (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa)
• mantravanmantrakovidaḥ = mantravat + mantrakovidaḥ

Context

Venerabel Vasistha, the best amongst the knowers of the Vedas, skilled in mantras and firm in his vows said to the king, 'Be it so.' Thereafter, mounted on the best of the chariots befitting a brahmin, with horses harnesed he proceeded personally to the abode of Rama to ask him to undertake a fast in accompaniment with mantras preceding the installation ceremony.

The teaching

Ethical theme

Samskara-dharma

For your practice

Understanding the role of guru in spiritual initiation and ritual

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Solemn, ritualistic, reverent

Themes

• Rajadharma
• Coronation
• Guru-Shishya
• Vedic Rituals
• Upavasa
• Diksha

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha
• Dasaratha
• Rama
• Vedas

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates Guru-Shishya Dharma (the sacred teacher-student relationship) and Rajadharma. Vasistha's immediate compliance with the king's request shows the sage's duty to guide the royal family, while the ritual fast represents the Vedic tradition of spiritual preparation before assuming important responsibilities.

What is the narrative situation?

King Dasaratha has instructed Vasistha to prepare Rama for his coronation by having him observe a ritual fast. Vasistha, the family priest and Vedic sage, accepts the command and personally travels to Rama's residence in a brahmin's chariot to convey these instructions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of Acharyabhakti (devotion to one's teacher) and Vedic discipline are emphasized. Vasistha's firmness in vows (sudṛḍhavrata) and expertise in mantras (mantrakovida) highlight the ideal qualities of a spiritual preceptor, while his personal visit shows the honor due to the heir apparent.