Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 25

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

शास्त्रज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च पुरुषान्तरकोविदः।यः प्रग्रहानुग्रहयोर्यथान्यायं विचक्षणः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.25

Transliteration

śāstra-jñaś ca kṛta-jñaś ca puruṣāntara-kovidaḥ | yaḥ pragrahānugrahayor yathā-nyāyaṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

शास्त्रज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च पुरुषान्तरकोविदः। यः प्रग्रहानुग्रहयोर्यथान्यायं विचक्षणः॥

Word by Word

• śāstra-jñaḥ: versed in scriptures
• śāstra-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + jñā (धातु)→jña (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘शास्त्रं जानाति’ → jña; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘scripture-knowing’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• kṛta-jñaḥ: grateful
• kṛta-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + jñā (धातु)→jña (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘कृतं (उपकारं) जानाति’ → kṛtajña; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘grateful’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• puruṣa-antara-kovidaḥ: skilled in discerning men’s inner nature
• puruṣa-antara-kovidaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘पुरुषाणाम् अन्तरम्’ (difference/inner nature) + kovida; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘skilled in discerning men’s differences’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम ‘who’

• pragraha-anugrahayoḥ: in reprimand and favor
• pragraha-anugrahayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pragraha (प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: द्वन्द्व; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनरूप (Genitive/Locative dual) ‘in/of reprimand and favor’; here with yathānyāyam = ‘in the matter of’

• yathā-nyāyam: according to justice
• yathā-nyāyam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अव्ययीभाव ‘यथान्यायम्’ = according to justice; अव्यय (adverbial)

• vicakṣaṇaḥ: discerning
• vicakṣaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-cakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘discerning/skillful’

Context

He was versed in scriptures. He was grateful (to those who did him some good) and skilled in differentiating the comparative merits of men. Fair in his judgement he dispensed justice in accordance with law by reprimanding (the delinquent) and favouring (the honest).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in governance requires impartial justice: knowing when to discipline and when to reward, based on true merit and guided by śāstra and nyāya.

What is the narrative situation?

The poem continues to present Rāma as an ideal administrator—learned, fair, and capable of nuanced judgement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Judicious fairness—balanced use of punishment and favor, combined with gratitude and knowledge.