Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.49 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 49

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

अथ राजवितीर्णेषु विविधेष्वासनेषु च।।।।राजानमेवाभिमुखाः निषेदुर्नियता नृपाः।

Transliteration

atha rājavitīrṇeṣu vividheṣv āsaneṣu ca |

rājānam evābhimukhāḥ niṣedur niyatā nṛpāḥ ||

Translation

अथ राजवितीर्णेषु विविधेष्वासनेषु, नियता नृपाः राजानमेवाभिमुखाः निषेदुः।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, discourse particle

• राजवितीर्णेषु: in (seats) given by the king
• राजवितीर्णेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājan-vitīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: rājñā vitīrṇa (given by the king); vitīrṇa = vi-√tṝ (धातु) + kta; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) agreeing with आसनेषु

• विविधेषु: in various
• विविधेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies आसनेषु

• आसनेषु: on seats
• आसनेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphasis particle (अवधारण)

• अभिमुखाः: facing (towards)
• अभिमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhimukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies नृपाः

• निषेदुः: sat down
• निषेदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-ṣad (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• नियताः: disciplined / in due order
• नियताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) from ni-√yam; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies नृपाः

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

Then the kings (who entered the assembly) took the seats assigned to them facing the king (Dasaratha), following the royal tradition.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Institutional dharma: adherence to established norms (niyama/maryādā) prevents disorder and safeguards respectful deliberation.

What is the narrative situation?

The visiting kings take their places in the hall in a prescribed manner, oriented toward Daśaratha as the presiding monarch.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control and respect for order—public discipline as a sign of cultivated kingship.