Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.45: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 45
सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्
Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King
Spoken by Citizens of AyodhyaSetting: Ayodhya (implied civic viewpoint)
एष श्रियं गच्छति राघवोऽद्य राजप्रसादाद्विपुलां गमिष्यन् ।
एते वयं सर्व समृद्धकामा येषामयं नो भविता प्रशास्ता ॥४५॥
eṣa śriyaṃ gacchati rāghavo 'dya rājaprasādād vipulāṃ gamiṣyan |
ete vayaṃ sarvasamṛddhakāmā yeṣām ayaṃ no bhavitā praśāstā ||45||
एष राघवोऽद्य राजप्रसादात् विपुलां श्रियं गच्छति राज्यलाभाय। एते वयं सर्वसमृद्धकामाः यस्यायं नो भविता प्रशास्ता॥
Sandhi Notes
- जनस्यास्य = जनस्य + अस्य
- यदेष = यत् + एष
- राष्ट्रमिदं = राष्ट्रम् + इदम्
- कश्चित्पश्येत् = कश्चित् + पश्येत्
- पश्येन्न = पश्येत् + न
- मनुजाधिपेऽस्मिन् = मनुजाधिपे + अस्मिन्
This scion of the Raghus (Rama) is going to acquire the earth and the wealth today by the king's grace. He will be our protector and fulfil all our desires.
The teaching
Good governance is envisioned as the fulfillment of collective welfare; a ruler’s legitimacy is tied to dharmic prosperity for subjects.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma (welfare governance)
Devotion and practice
Contemplation of ideal rulership as a form of Rāma-smaraṇa; inspires aspiration for dharmic leadership in one’s own sphere.
- Deity praised
- Rama (implicitly)
- Form of praise
- Stuti (a hymn of praise)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Hopeful, auspicious, confident
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Rajadharma
Śrī as both external prosperity and inner auspiciousness; the ideal ruler as instrument of dharma rather than personal enjoyer.
Subtle echo of ‘praśāsana’ (governance/order) as cosmic order mirrored in social order (ṛta → dharma).
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.16: citizens’ expectations of Rama’s reign; Rāmacaritamānasa: ‘Rāma-rājya’ idealization (later fulfillment)
Vedic ‘śrī’ hymnic conceptions of prosperity and auspicious rule (general allusion)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: yuvarāja-abhiṣeka anticipation; contrast with subsequent exile decree
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Joyful
Bright, ascending svara on ‘śriyaṃ gacchati’ and settling on ‘praśāstā’
FAQs
Rajadharma is foregrounded: the ideal ruler is expected to protect and promote the welfare of all, becoming the basis of public prosperity.
Citizens speak confidently of Rama’s imminent rise to rulership and the benefits they expect under his governance.
Rama’s suitability to rule—seen as protective, beneficent, and capable of fulfilling the people’s legitimate needs.
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