Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.18 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 18

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

अरोगस्तरुणो वाग्मी वपुष्मान्देशकालवित्।लोके पुरुषसारज्ञ स्साधुरेको विनिर्मितः।।।।

Transliteration

arogas taruṇo vāgmī vapuṣmān deśa-kāla-vit | loke puruṣa-sāra-jñaḥ sādhur eko vinirmitaḥ ||

Translation

ఆయన నిరోగి, యౌవనవంతుడు, వాగ్మి, సుందరదేహధారి; దేశకాలానుసారంగా ఏది యుక్తమో సమ్యకుగా తెలిసినవాడు. లోకంలో ఆయన ఒక అపూర్వ నిర్మాణంలా—పురుషుల సారాన్ని గ్రహించగలవాడు, స్వభావతః సాధు-శీలుడు.

Word by Word

• arogaḥ: healthy (free from disease)
• arogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-roga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘disease-free’

• taruṇaḥ: young
• taruṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: taruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘young’

• vāgmī: eloquent
• vāgmī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + -min (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘eloquent’

• vapuṣmān: well-built
• vapuṣmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक) + -mant (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘possessing a fine body’

• deśa-kāla-vit: knowing place and time
• deśa-kāla-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)→vit (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: द्वन्द्व (देश + काल) + vit (विद्-धातुज कृदन्त ‘knower’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of place and time’

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the world’

• puruṣa-sāra-jñaḥ: knower of men’s worth
• puruṣa-sāra-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + jñā (धातु)→jña (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष ‘पुरुषाणां सारं’ (men’s worth/essence) + jña; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘judge of men’s worth’

• sādhuḥ: a virtuous man
• sādhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘good man/saintly person’

• ekaḥ: one (unique)
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one/unique’

• vinirmitaḥ: created/formed
• vinirmitaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-nir-mā (धातु) + nirmita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ ‘created/formed’ (predicate participle)

Context

He was young, eloquent, healthy and free from disease. He was conscious of (right) time and place (for his pursuits). He was capable of ascertaining the potentiality ofmen. He was born a sage in this world.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as propriety and discernment: knowing the right action for the right time and place (deśa-kāla), and judging people by their true worth rather than appearances.

What is the narrative situation?

Early in Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 1, the poem offers a compact portrait of Rāma’s exemplary qualities while the broader episode sets the stage for events in Ayodhyā and Bhārata’s absence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Practical wisdom joined to moral goodness—eloquence, self-possession, and the ability to recognize merit in others.