Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 2

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Setting: Kekaya (Aśvapati’s realm; maternal uncle’s residence)Sojourn during visit to maternal relatives

Devanagari script

तत्र न्यवसद्भ्रात्रा सह सत्कारसत्कृतः ।

मातुलेनाश्वपतिना पुत्रस्नेहेन लालितः ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.2

Transliteration

tatra nyavasad bhrātrā saha satkāra-satkṛtaḥ |

mātulenāśvapatinā putra-snehena lālitaḥ ||2||

Translation

அங்கே அவர் தம் சகோதரனுடன் தங்கி, எல்லாவித மரியாதைகளாலும் போற்றப்பட்டார். தாய்மாமனான அச்வபதி அவரை மகன் மீது கொண்ட அன்புபோல் அன்புடன் வளர்த்தார்.

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Word by Word

• tatra: there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)

• nyavasat: stayed, dwelt
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (imperfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• bhrātrā: with (his) brother
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; with saha
• Role: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/associate)

• saha: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; preposition-like indeclinable meaning ‘with’
• Role: Sahārtha-dyotaka (सहार्थ-द्योतक)

• satkārasatkṛtaḥ: well received, hospitably honoured
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + sat-kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) < √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: satkāreṇa satkṛtaḥ ‘honoured with hospitality’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying (Bharata)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• mātulena: by (his) maternal uncle
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agent in passive sense with lālitaḥ
• Role: Kartṛ (कर्ता/agent in passive)

• aśvapatinā: by Aśvapati (lord of horses)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to mātulena
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)

• putrasnehena: with filial affection
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: putrasya snehaḥ ‘affection like for a son’; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrument/cause
• Role: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• lālitaḥ: was fondled/cherished
• Type: Verb
• Root: lālita (कृदन्त, क्त) < √lal (धातु)
• Form: Kta past passive participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive predication
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• nyavasad bhrātrā = nyavasat + bhrātrā (final -t before voiced consonant often becomes -d in saṃhitā)
• mātulenāśvapatinā = mātulena + aśvapatinā (a + a → ā)

Context

Treated with warm hospitality and fatherly affection by his maternal uncle Aswapati, Bharata stayed on there along with his brother.

The teaching

Kinship dharma expresses itself as satkāra and putra-sneha—honoring relatives strengthens social and moral order.

Ethical theme

Kula-dharma / gṛhastha-dharma

For your practice

Cultivates gratitude and humility in receiving care; supports bhāva of sevā within family as dharma.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Tender, hospitable, familial

Themes

• Itihasa
• Family duty
• Affection
• Hospitality
• Dharma

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bhārata
• Śatrughna (implied as ‘brother’)
• Aśvapati (maternal uncle)
• Kekaya (implied locale/kingdom context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as kinship responsibility and hospitality: relatives uphold social order through respectful reception and affectionate care.

What is the narrative situation?

Bhārata (with Śatrughna) is residing away from Ayodhyā at his maternal uncle’s home, a circumstance that later affects the unfolding political crisis.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Warm familial care and proper honoring of guests/kinsmen (satkāra).