Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.13 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 13

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

अनुरूपस्स वै नाथो लक्ष्मीवान् लक्ष्मणाग्रजः।त्रैलोक्यमपि नाथेन येन स्यान्नाथवत्तरम्।।2.2.13।।

Transliteration

anurūpaḥ sa vai nātho lakṣmīvān lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ | trailokyam api nāthena yena syān nāthavattaram || 2.2.13 ||

Translation

अनुरूप एव स नाथो लक्ष्मीवान् लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। येन नाथेन त्रैलोक्यमपि नाथवत्तरं स्यात्॥2.2.13॥

Word by Word

• anurūpaḥ: befitting
• anurūpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of saḥ/nāthaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• nāthaḥ: lord/protector
• nāthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to saḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣmīvān: endowed with fortune/marks of greatness
• lakṣmīvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmīvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); possessive adjective

• lakṣmaṇa-agrajaḥ: elder brother of Lakshmana
• lakṣmaṇa-agrajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + agraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa'

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• trailokyam: Karta (कर्ता) of syāt
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu: 'three worlds'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), 'even/also'

• nāthena: with a lord/protector
• nāthena: Karaṇa (करण) / Sahakāraka
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• yena: by whom
• yena: Karaṇa (करण) (by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun referring to rāma

• syāt: would be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• nāthavattaram: better protected
• nāthavattaram: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāthavat (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तरप्)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); comparative degree (तर) agreeing with trailokyam

Context

With him (Rama) as ruler, all the three worlds will also have a better protector.That elder brother of Lakshmana with signs of greatness is certainly the most befitting to rule this kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

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

A ruler’s dharma is protective guardianship (nāthatva): ensuring safety and order so thoroughly that the world feels secure.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha continues to persuade the assembly that Rāma is the most suitable sovereign.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s fitness to rule and his capacity to protect on a universal scale.