Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.34: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 34

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Setting: Ayodhya palace (Kauśalyā’s chamber/shrine vicinity)

Devanagari script

तथा सनियमामेव सोऽभिगम्याभिवाद्य च ।

उवाच वचनं रामो हर्षयंस्तामनिन्दिताम् ॥३४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.34

Transliteration

tathā sa-niyamām eva so ’bhigamyābhivādya ca |

uvāca vacanaṃ rāmo harṣayaṃs tām aninditām ||34||

Translation

तथा सनियमामेव सोऽभिगम्याभिवाद्य च। उवाच वचनं रामो हर्षयंस्तामनिन्दिताम्॥

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Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in that manner)
• Role: Sambandha (manner)

• सनियमाम्: observing religious discipline
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘नियमयुक्ताम्’ = ‘observing vows/discipline’
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण; tām)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (emphasis)

• सः: he
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• अभिगम्य: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having approached’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having saluted’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

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

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• वचनम्: words, speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• रामः: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• हर्षयन्: gladdening
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृष् (धातु) → हर्षयत् (कृदन्त; णिच् causative)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘causing to rejoice’
• Role: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)

• ताम्: her
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• अनिन्दिताम्: blameless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-निन्दित (प्रातिपदिक; √निन्द् क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ताम्-विशेषण ‘blameless’
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• सोऽभिगम्याभिवाद्य = सः + अभिगम्य + अभिवाद्य
• तामनिन्दिताम् = ताम् + अनिन्दिताम्

Context

While she (Kausalya) was in that state of meditation, Rama approached her, offered reverential salutation and said these words of praise enhancing her joy:

The teaching

Joy is made dharmic through humility: approach elders with reverence, then speak to uplift and reassure.

Ethical theme

Vinaya (humility)

Devotion and practice

Practical bhakti expressed as reverence to mother/elders; cultivates humility as a daily sādhana.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Reverent, uplifting, gentle

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Respect to mother
• Gentle speech

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma of reverence and right speech: Rāma honors his mother’s spiritual practice and speaks in a way that uplifts, reflecting truthful and compassionate conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma comes to Kauśalyā while she is observing prayerful discipline, salutes her, and begins speaking.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s courtesy and sensitivity—he approaches with respect and gladdens his mother through considerate words.