Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.8 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 8

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

प्राप्य वर्षसहस्राणि बहून्यायूंषि जीवतः।जीर्णस्यास्य शरीरस्य विश्रान्तिमभिरोचये।।2.2.8।।

Transliteration

prāpya varṣa-sahasrāṇi bahūny āyūṃṣi jīvataḥ | jīrṇasyāsya śarīrasya viśrāntim abhirocaye || 2.2.8 ||

Translation

बहूनि वर्षसहस्राणि बहून्यायूंषि जीवतः। अस्य जीर्णस्य शरीरस्य विश्रान्तिम् अभिरोचये॥

Word by Word

• prāpya: having attained
• prāpya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prā-āp (प्र + आप् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग), indeclinable; 'having attained'

• varṣa-sahasrāṇi: thousands of years
• varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म) of prāpya
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa sense: 'thousands of years'

• bahūni: many
• bahūni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying āyūṃṣi

• āyūṃṣi: lifespans/years of life
• āyūṃṣi: Karma (कर्म) of prāpya (co-ordinate with varṣasahasrāṇi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (आयुस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• jīvataḥ: while living
• jīvataḥ: Kāla/avasthā (काल/अवस्था)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīv (जीव् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ-कृदन्त), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially: 'while living'

• jīrṇasya: of the worn-out
• jīrṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jṝ (जॄ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त) used adjectivally; Masculine/Neuter Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying śarīrasya

• asya: of this
• asya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun qualifying śarīrasya

• śarīrasya: of the body
• śarīrasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśrāntim: rest
• viśrāntim: Karma (कर्म) of abhirocaye
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśrānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhirocaye: I desire/approve
• abhirocaye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ruc (अभि + रुच् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), First person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Context

Having lived for thousands of years this body is now worn out due to old age and therefore I want rest.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse expresses responsible kingship: recognizing one’s declining capacity and seeking rest so that governance (rajadharma) may be carried on effectively by a fitter successor.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha reflects on his advanced age and bodily exhaustion while preparing to transfer royal responsibility—setting the stage for Rāma’s intended installation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and humility: Daśaratha acknowledges human limitation and prioritizes the kingdom’s welfare over personal attachment to power.