Valmiki Ramayana 2.110.2 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 110, Shloka 2

लोकसमुत्पत्ति-वर्णनम् तथा इक्ष्वाकुवंश-प्रशंसा

Cosmogony and Ikshvaku Genealogy as Counsel to Rama

Devanagari script

निवर्तयितुकामस्तु त्वामेतद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्।इमां लोकसमुत्पत्तिं लोकनाथ निबोध मे।।।।

Transliteration

nivartayitu-kāmas tu tvām etad vākyam abravīt |

imāṁ loka-samutpattiṁ loka-nātha nibodha me ||

Translation

உம்மைத் திரும்பச் செய்ய விரும்பி அவன் உம்மிடம் இவ்வாறு கூறினான்— “ஹே உலகநாதா, என்னிடமிருந்து இந்த உலகத்தின் தோற்றக் கதையை அறிந்துகொள்.”

Word by Word

• nivartayitu-kāmaḥ: desiring to make (you) return
• nivartayitu-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of abravīt)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nivartayitum (√vṛt caus. धातु) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (तुमुन् + काम), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘return-cause-intending’ (one desiring to make (you) return)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (indeed/but)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of vākyam)

• vākyam: statement/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म/object of abravīt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• imām: this
• imām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of samutpattim)

• loka-samutpattim: origin of the world
• loka-samutpattim: Karma (कर्म/object of nibodha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + samutpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘of the world’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• loka-nātha: O lord of the world(s)
• loka-nātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• nibodha: understand/learn
• nibodha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√budh (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• me: from me
• me: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन; अत्र ‘मत्तः/मे’ = ‘from me’ (source)

Context

O lord of the worlds, Jabali had spoken all this only with the intention to make you return (to Ayodhya). Listen! I shall (now) relate to you the origin of the world.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jābāli

FAQs

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

Discernment in counsel: one should evaluate speech by intention and alignment with dharma, not merely by rhetorical force; truthful understanding (satya-bodha) is urged.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Jābāli’s argument meant to induce a return to Ayodhyā, Lakṣmaṇa explains that the speech was strategically intended to make Rāma turn back, and introduces a didactic account about cosmic origins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s protective clarity and commitment to dharmic reasoning—he frames persuasion as something to be tested against truth and right order.