Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.7: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 7

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Spoken by DasharathaSetting: Ayodhya (royal court)

Devanagari script

इदं शरीरं कृत्स्नस्य लोकस्य चरता हितम् ।

पाण्डुरस्याऽतपत्रस्यच्छायायां जरितं मया ॥७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.7

Transliteration

idaṃ śarīraṃ kṛtsnasya lokasya caratā hitam |

pāṇḍurasyātapatrasya chāyāyāṃ jaritaṃ mayā ||7||

Translation

इदं शरीरं मया कृत्स्नस्य लोकस्य हिताय चरता जरितम्। पाण्डुरस्यातपत्रस्य छायायां स्थितेन॥

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Word by Word

• idam: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of śarīram

• śarīram: body
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• kṛtsnasya: of the entire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtsna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying lokasya
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• lokasya: of the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• caratā: by (me) acting/moving about
• Type: Adjective
• Root: car (चर् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ-कृदन्त), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreement by sense; used as agent-instrument: 'by me who was moving/acting'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) in instrumental (agent)

• hitam: beneficial; for welfare
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā/hi 'to place' > 'beneficial')
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to śarīram
• Role: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विशेषण)

• pāṇḍurasya: of the white
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ātapatrasya
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)

• ātapatrasya: of the parasol
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātapatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor)

• chāyāyām: in/under the shade
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• jaritam: grown old; aged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jṝ (जॄ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate to śarīram: 'grown old'
• Role: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (विशेषण)

• mayā: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun (उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) in instrumental (agent)

Sandhi Notes

• pāṇḍurasyā’tapatrasya-cchāyāyām → pāṇḍurasya ātapatrasya chāyāyām
• idaṅ/śarīraṅ etc. normalized to idaṃ/śarīraṃ

Context

My body has attained old age after ruling the entire world ensuring the welfare of the people under the shade of royal white parasol.

The teaching

Even righteous rule consumes the body; recognizing impermanence prompts timely transfer of responsibility.

Duties in tension

• Continuing rāja-dharma despite bodily decline
• Succession planning for loka-hita

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma / anityatā-bodha

How it resolves

Delegation/succession (implied)

For your practice

Contemplation on impermanence and duty (karma-yoga): serve without clinging to the body’s endurance.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Weary, reflective, dignified

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Satya
• Ethics
• Itihasa
• Impermanence

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: the king’s duty is to labor for the welfare of the people; personal comfort is secondary to public good.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha reflects on his long reign and advancing age, framing his life as service performed under the insignia of kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility and public-spirited governance—endurance in duty over time.