Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.29 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 29

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

राम स्सत्पुरुषो लोके सत्यधर्मपरायणः।साक्षाद्रामाद्विनिर्वृत्तो धर्मश्चापि श्रिया सह।।2.2.29।।

Transliteration

rāmaḥ satpuruṣo loke satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ |

sākṣād rāmād vinirvṛtto dharmaś cāpi śriyā saha || 2.2.29 ||

Translation

लोके रामः सत्पुरुषः सत्यधर्मपरायणः। साक्षाद् रामादेव धर्मः श्रिया सह विनिर्वृत्त इव।

Word by Word

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• satpuruṣaḥ: a noble man
• satpuruṣaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya; सत् पुरुषः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• satya-dharma-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to truth and righteousness
• satya-dharma-parāyaṇaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; सत्ये धर्मे च परायणः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sākṣāt: directly, as if in person
• sākṣāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रत्यक्षार्थ (directly/manifestly)

• rāmāt: from Rama
• rāmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• vinirvṛttaḥ: arisen/emanated
• vinirvṛttaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-nis-√vṛt/√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dharmaḥ: righteousness (Dharma)
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), 'also'

• śriyā: with prosperity/splendor
• śriyā: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition), 'with'

Context

Devoted to truth and righteousness Rama is the most venerable among men in this world. Even righteousness along with prosperity flows directly from Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Dharma
• Śrī (prosperity/fortune)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as not merely a rule but a living force embodied in a person: Rāma’s commitment to satya (truth) makes righteousness naturally arise and spread through him.

What is the narrative situation?

In the royal assembly at Ayodhyā, Daśaratha (or the court narration aligned with him) praises Rāma’s qualities while speaking to gathered rulers, building the case for Rāma’s eminence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-dharma-parāyaṇatā—steadfast devotion to truth and righteousness—so complete that dharma and prosperity are said to emanate from him.