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

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhyā (court context implied)

Devanagari script

राम स्सत्पुरुषो लोके सत्यधर्मपरायणः ।

साक्षाद्रामाद्विनिर्वृत्तो धर्मश्चापि श्रिया सह ॥२९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.29

Transliteration

rāmaḥ satpuruṣo loke satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ |

sākṣād rāmād vinirvṛtto dharmaś cāpi śriyā saha ||29||

Translation

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

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Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandhi Notes

• rāma ssat- = rāmaḥ + sat- (visarga before s)
• sākṣādrāmād = sākṣāt + rāmāt (t/d sandhi)
• dharmaścāpi = dharmaḥ + ca + api (visarga to ś before c)

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.

The teaching

When a leader is anchored in satya and dharma, prosperity naturally accompanies and social order stabilizes.

Ethical theme

Dharma as character (sadācāra)

Devotion and practice

Meditation on Rāma as the fountain of dharma supports ethical sādhanā and inner steadiness.

Deity praised

Rāma as dharma-mūrti

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Serene, reverent, assured

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Rajadharma
• Ethics
• Ideal Kingship

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

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.