Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.10 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 10

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

सोऽहं विश्रममिच्छामि पुत्रं कृत्वा प्रजाहिते।सन्निकृष्टानिमान्सर्वाननुमान्य द्विजर्षभान्।।2.2.10।।

Transliteration

so 'haṃ viśramam icchāmi putraṃ kṛtvā prajāhite | sannikṛṣṭān imān sarvān anumānya dvijarṣabhān || 2.2.10 ||

Translation

अहं प्रजाहिते पुत्रं कृत्वा विश्रममिच्छामि; सन्निकृष्टान् इमान् सर्वान् द्विजर्षभान् अनुमन्य।

Word by Word

• saḥ: that (I); such
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (co-referential with aham)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun used for self-reference

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśramam: rest
• viśramam: Karma (कर्म) of icchāmi
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), First person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• putram: (my) son
• putram: Karma (कर्म) of kṛtvā
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtvā: having made/installed
• kṛtvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्यय), indeclinable; 'having made/appointed'

• prajā-hite: for the people's welfare
• prajā-hite: Prayojana/Adhikaraṇa (प्रयोजन/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'in/for the welfare of the subjects' (purpose-locative)

• sannikṛṣṭān: assembled/nearby
• sannikṛṣṭān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ni-kṛṣ (सम्+नि+कृष् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying dvijarṣabhān

• imān: these
• imān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying dvijarṣabhān

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying dvijarṣabhān

• anumānya: having obtained consent
• anumānya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-man (अनु + मन् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यपन्त अव्यय), indeclinable; 'having obtained consent/after persuading'

• dvija-ṛṣabhān: the best of brahmins
• dvija-ṛṣabhān: Karma (कर्म) of anumānya (object of persuading)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'bulls among the twice-born' = best brahmins

Context

Therefore, after convincing all of you, the best of (learned) brahmins present here, I intend to take rest by installing my son to look after the welfare of the people.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brāhmaṇas (dvijarṣabha)
• Rāma (implied as 'my son')
• Prajā (subjects)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: the king seeks the welfare of the subjects and legitimizes a major decision (succession) through the consent of learned, impartial advisers.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha addresses the assembled Brāhmaṇas and court, stating his intention to install his son and then retire from active burdens of rule.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of responsibility and procedural righteousness—he wants approval from the wise before acting.