Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 14

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

प्रशस्तमन्नं गुणवद्दधिक्षीरोपसेचनम्।द्विजानां शतसाहस्रे यत्प्रकाममलं भवेत्।।।।

Transliteration

praśastam annaṃ guṇavad dadhikṣīropasecanam | dvijānāṃ śatasāhasre yat prakāmam alaṃ bhavet ||

Translation

प्रशस्तमन्नं सुसंस्कृतं गुणवत् दधिक्षीराभ्यां समुपसेचितं पच्यताम्, यत् शतसाहस्रं द्विजानां प्रकामं तृप्त्यर्थं पर्याप्तं निर्मलं च भवेत्।

Word by Word

• praśastam: excellent
• praśastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (कृदन्त; √śas प्रशंसा-करणे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण (adjective) to annaṃ

• annam: food/rice
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• guṇavat: of good quality
• guṇavat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण to dadhikṣīropasecanam

• dadhikṣīra-upasecanam: curd-and-milk accompaniment (food with curd & milk)
• dadhikṣīra-upasecanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + upasecana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास: दधि-क्षीर-उपसेचनम् = 'curd-and-milk accompaniment/pouring'

• dvijānām: of the brahmins
• dvijānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), षष्ठी (Gen), बहुवचन (pl)

• śata-sāhasre: for a hundred thousand (brahmins)
• śata-sāhasre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (sg); द्विगु-समास: शतसाहस्रम् = 'a hundred-thousand'; here locative 'in/for a hundred thousand (persons)'

• yat: which/whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• prakāmam: to one’s full desire; abundantly
• prakāmam: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prakāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); manner/extent

• alam: enough; sufficient
• alam: Prayojaka-bhāva (भाव/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable particle); पर्याप्त्यर्थे (in the sense of sufficiency)

• bhavet: should be/is to be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Context

At dawn tomorrow the best of brahmins be honoured with cooked rice clarified butter, curd, roasted corn and gifts in abundance.

Characters & Entities

• dvija (brahmins)
• dadhi (curd)

FAQs

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

Dāna and atithi-satkara: righteous rule expresses itself through generous, respectful provision for learned guests and ritual participants.

What is the narrative situation?

As preparations begin for Rāma’s yuvarāja consecration, arrangements are ordered for a massive brahmin-feeding with high-quality food.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and ceremonial propriety: the king ensures abundance and quality, reflecting commitment to dharmic public rites.