Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.17: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 17
गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः
Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent
नाऽऽश्रेयसि रतो विद्वान्नविरुद्धकथारुचिः।उत्तरोत्तरयुक्तौ च वक्ता वाचस्पतिर्यथा।।।।
nāśreyasi rato vidvān na viruddha-kathā-ruciḥ | uttarottara-yuktau ca vaktā vācaspatir yathā ||
नाऽश्रेयसि रतो विद्वान् न विरुद्धकथारुचिः। उत्तरोत्तरयुक्तौ च वक्ता वाचस्पतिर्यथा॥
A learned man, he evinced no interest in pursuits that did not contribute to one's welfare or had he any liking for speaking against others. But in debates his oratorical flourish was comparable to Brihaspati's.
FAQs
Right speech aligned with satya and hita (truth and benefit): avoid harmful pursuits and hostile talk, yet use learning for constructive reasoning and dharmic counsel.
The narrator completes another facet of Rāma’s portrait—his disciplined interests and exemplary, principled eloquence.
Vāk-saṃyama (restraint in speech) together with vidvat (learned eloquence) used ethically.
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