Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 16

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

यद्यप्येषा मम प्रीतिर्हितमन्यद्विचिन्त्यताम् ।

अन्या मध्यस्थचिन्ता हि विमर्दाभ्यधिकोदया ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.16

Transliteration

yady apy eṣā mama prītiḥ hitam anyad vicintyatām |

anyā madhyastha-cintā hi vimardābhy adhikodayā ||16||

Translation

Choć to jest to, co mnie raduje, niech inna droga, przynosząca dobro, również będzie rozważona; refleksja bezstronnych umysłów przez deliberację przynosi większą korzyść.

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Word by Word

• yadi: if/though
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/conditional particle (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)

• api: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive 'even'
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)

• eṣā: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun qualifying prītiḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• mama: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor)

• prītiḥ: preference/liking
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)

• hitam: welfare; what is beneficial
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'welfare/benefit' as subject of vicintyatām
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) of vicintyatām

• anyat: another/alternative
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying hitam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• vicintyatām: let it be considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (वि + चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट् कर्मणि), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); 'let it be considered'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• anyā: another
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying cintā
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• madhyastha-cintā: impartial counsel
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyastha (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'impartial deliberation/opinion'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• hi: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), indeed/for
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)

• vimardāt: from discussion/deliberation
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimarda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Apādāna (अपादान) (source: from deliberation)

• abhyadhikā: greater
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying udayā
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• udayā: benefit arises
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'arising/benefit' (contextual)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate/topic)

Sandhi Notes

• yadyapyēṣā → yadi api eṣā
• prītiḥ hitam → prītiḥ hitam (visarga sandhi)
• anyadvicintyatām → anyat vicintyatām
• vimardābhyadhiko(d)ayā → vimardāt abhyadhikā udayā (interpreting as ablative + predicate)

Context

Although this is what I would like to do, please suggest alternative ways of achieving the welfare (of this kingdom). Deliberations by the unbiased (on this issue) may bring good.

The teaching

What pleases the ruler is not automatically what benefits the realm; impartial deliberation yields superior outcomes and prevents harm.

Duties in tension

• Personal preference/affection (prīti)
• Public welfare and prudent policy (hita, nīti)

Ethical theme

Nīti/rājadharma

How it resolves

Deliberative (seek impartial counsel; choose hita over priya)

For your practice

Practical viveka: pause, consult, and choose hita over priya; supports daily ethical clarity.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace)

Mood

Impartial, reflective, prudent

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics of deliberation
• Impartial counsel
• Rājadharma

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Impartial deliberation is dharmic decision-making: personal preference should yield to what best serves collective welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha explicitly invites unbiased debate and alternative proposals, even against his own preference.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fair-mindedness and commitment to the common good over personal desire.