Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.27-29: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shlokas 27-29

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं लोके विख्यातपौरुषम् ॥२७॥

दीर्घबाहुं महासत्त्वं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनम् ।

चन्द्रकान्ताननं राममतीव प्रियदर्शनम् ॥२८॥

रूपौदार्यगुणैः पुंसां दृष्टिचित्तापहारिणम् ।

घर्माभितप्ताः पर्जन्यं ह्लादयन्तमिव प्रजाः ॥२९॥

न ततर्प समायान्तं पश्यमानो नराधिपः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.27-29

Transliteration

gandharvarāja-pratimaṃ loke vikhyāta-pauruṣam ||27||

dīrgha-bāhuṃ mahā-sattvaṃ matta-mātaṅga-gāminam |

candrakānta-ānanaṃ rāmam atīva priya-darśanam ||28||

rūpa-audārya-guṇaiḥ puṃsāṃ dṛṣṭi-citta-apahāriṇam |

gharmābhitaptāḥ parjanyaṃ hlādayantam iva prajāḥ ||29||

na tatarpa samāyāntaṃ paśyamāno narādhipaḥ |

Translation

Rama wyglądał jak samo wcielenie króla Gandharwów, słynącego na świecie z męstwa - długoramienny, potężny, kroczący dostojnym chodem jak pijany słoń, o twarzy lśniącej jak kamień księżycowy i niezwykle miły dla oka. Swym pięknem, szlachetnością i cnotami porywał oczy i serca ludzi; jak deszcz, który raduje ludzi spalonych upałem, tak on cieszył poddanych. Patrząc, jak się zbliża, król nie mógł się nim nasycić.

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Word by Word

• avatārya: having helped (him) alight
• avatārya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ava-√tṝ (तॄ) (कृदन्त; ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having made (him) descend’

• sumantraḥ: Sumantra
• sumantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• rāghavam: Rāghava (Rama)
• rāghavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• syandanottamāt: from the excellent chariot
• syandanottamāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: syandana + uttama (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ‘उत्तमः स्यन्दनः’ (best chariot)

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• samīpam: near (to)
• samīpam: Karma (कर्म/गत्यर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal as object)

• gacchantam: going
• gacchantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √gam (गम्) (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded palms
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘प्राञ्जलि’ = with folded hands

• pṛṣṭhataḥ: from behind
• pṛṣṭhataḥ: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭhatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: from behind/behind)

• anvagāt: followed
• anvagāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√gā (गा)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

Rama appeared as the very image of king of the gandharvas known for his courage in this world. With his long arms, he was extremely handsome with a countenance of the colour of moonstone possessed of immense strength, he walked with the gait of an intoxicated elephant. He captivated the eyes and hearts of men with his beauty and generosity. He looked like Parjanya (raingod), gladdening men scorched by heat. Even after (intensely) gazing at Rama approaching, the king (Dasaratha) was not satiated.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha (narādhipaḥ)
• Parjanya (rain-god, as a comparison)
• people (prajāḥ)

FAQs

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

The dharmic ideal of leadership: Rāma’s attractiveness is not merely physical; it is grounded in virtues (guṇa) and generosity (audārya) that bring relief and joy to the people—like life-giving rain.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma approaches the royal assembly; the narration pauses to describe his appearance and the effect he has on the king and the people.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s guṇa and audārya—inner excellence and noble generosity—presented as the true source of his public charisma.