Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 6

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

मयाप्याचरितं पूर्वैः पन्थानमनुगच्छता।

प्रजा नित्यमनिद्रेण यथाशक्त्यभिरक्षिताः।।2.2.6।।

Transliteration

mayāpy ācaritaṃ pūrvaiḥ panthānam anugacchatā | prajā nityam anidreṇa yathāśakty abhirakṣitāḥ || 2.2.6 ||

Translation

ପୂର୍ବଜମାନେ ଆଚରିତ କରିଥିବା ପଥକୁ ଅନୁସରଣ କରି, ମୁଁ ଯଥାଶକ୍ତି ନିଦ୍ରାହୀନ ସତର୍କତାରେ ପ୍ରଜାମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିତ୍ୟ ରକ୍ଷା କରିଆସିଛି।

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपातः (particle) — ‘also/even’

• आचरितम्: practised/followed
• आचरितम्: कर्म (Karma; thing done)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘आचरितम्’ = practised/followed

• पूर्वैः: by the predecessors
• पूर्वैः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; ‘पूर्वैः’ = by predecessors

• पन्थानम्: path
• पन्थानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्थान्/पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• अनुगच्छता: while following
• अनुगच्छता: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; ‘(मया) अनुगच्छता’ = while following

• प्रजाः: the people
• प्रजाः: कर्म (Karma; patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: कालाधिकरण (Time adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• अनिद्रेण: with vigilance
• अनिद्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्—‘vigilant/unsleeping’

• यथाशक्ति: to the best of (one's) ability
• यथाशक्ति: प्रकार (Manner adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + शक्ति (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावः—‘शक्त्यानुसारम्’ (according to ability)

• अभिरक्षिताः: were protected
• अभिरक्षिताः: क्रिया (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; ‘were protected’

Context

O son of the Raghus (Dasaratha)!, because of your good fortune that Rama, endowed with the qualities of an ideal son like Kasyapa to Maricha was born to you for the welfare of this world.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• prajā (subjects)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma includes continuous vigilance and protection of subjects; governance is portrayed as an unceasing moral labor rather than a privilege.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha summarizes his reign as faithful to ancestral standards, preparing the ground for transferring responsibility to a worthy successor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility and discipline—anidratā (wakeful vigilance) in service of the people.