Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.12: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 12

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Spoken by Dasharatha to RamaSetting: Palace interior, Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

राम वृद्धोऽस्मि दीर्घायुर्भुक्ता भोगा मयेप्सिताः ।

अन्नवद्भिः क्रतुशतै स्तथेष्टं भूरिदक्षिणैः ॥१२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.12

Transliteration

rāma vṛddho 'smi dīrghāyur bhuktā bhogā mayepsitāḥ |

annavadbhiḥ kratuśataiḥ tathā iṣṭaṃ bhūridakṣiṇaiḥ ||12||

Translation

"Rama, żyłem długo i stałem się stary. Doznałem przyjemności, których pragnąłem, i odprawiłem setki ofiar - obfitych w jedzenie i szczodre w dary."

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Word by Word

• राम: O Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• वृद्धः: old
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अहम्-विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः दीर्घम् आयुः यस्य सः = दीर्घायुः (बहुव्रीहि)
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• भुक्ताः: enjoyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘enjoyed’ (bhogāḥ…bhuktāḥ)
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विधेय)

• भोगाः: pleasures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• मया: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (करण/कर्तृ), एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ईप्सिताः: desired
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle from √आप् with desiderative sense ‘desired’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भोगानां विशेषणम्
• Role: Karta-dharma (कर्तृधर्म/विशेषण)

• अन्नवद्भिः: with abundant food
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्नवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; क्रतुशतानां विशेषणम् ‘with plenty of food’
• Role: Karana (करण)

• क्रतुशतैः: by hundreds of sacrifices
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः शतं क्रतवः = क्रतुशत (द्विगु)
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Dvigu

• तथा: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार (also/likewise)
• Role: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)

• इष्टम्: (sacrifices) were performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘sacrifice was performed’ (impersonal)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• भूरिदक्षिणैः: with abundant gifts (fees)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः भूरिः दक्षिणा यस्मिन्/येषु ते = भूरिदक्षिण (बहुव्रीहि), क्रतुशतानां विशेषणम्
• Role: Karana (करण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

Sandhi Notes

• वृद्धोऽस्मि = वृद्धः + अस्मि
• दीर्घायुर्भुक्ताः = दीर्घायुः + भुक्ताः
• मयेप्सिताः = मया + ईप्सिताः
• क्रतुशतै स्तथेष्टम् = क्रतुशतैः + तथा + इष्टम्

Context

O Rama! after a long life I have grown old. I have enjoyed all the pleasures I desired. I have also performed hundreds of rituals which enjoined distribution of abundant food and gifts.

The teaching

Having fulfilled bhoga, yajña, and dāna, a ruler should responsibly transfer burden of governance to the worthy; maturity includes timely relinquishment.

Ethical theme

Rājadharma / life-stage propriety

For your practice

Reflection on impermanence and completion of duties; encourages gratitude and readiness to hand over responsibilities without clinging.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Reflective, world-weary, dignified

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Aging
• Merit (puṇya)
• Satya

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

It highlights life-stage dharma: after fulfilling worldly and ritual obligations, a ruler turns toward orderly succession and duty to the future.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha begins explaining to Rāma why he is ready to pass responsibilities onward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability and honesty—Daśaratha truthfully assesses his age and completed duties.