Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 4

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Setting: Ayodhyā (implied, Daśaratha at court)

Devanagari script

राजाऽपि तौ महातेजा स्सस्मार प्रोषितौ सुतौ ।

उभौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ महेन्द्रवरुणोपमौ ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.4

Transliteration

rājāpi tau mahātejā sasmāra proṣitau sutau |

ubhau bharataśatrughnau mahendravaruṇopamau ||4||

Translation

మహాతేజస్సుగల రాజు దశరథుడు కూడా గృహం దూరంగా ఉన్న తన ఇద్దరు కుమారులు—భరతుడు, శత్రుఘ్నుడు—ను స్మరించాడు; వారు మహేంద్రుడు (ఇంద్రుడు) మరియు వరుణునితో సమానులని ఉపమించబడినవారు।

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Word by Word

• rājā: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)

• api: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle ‘also’
• Role: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)

• tau: those two
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; object of sasmāra
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• mahātejāḥ: greatly radiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: mahā-tejāḥ ‘of great splendour’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifying rājā
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• sasmāra: remembered
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• proṣitau: who were away (from home)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: proṣita (कृदन्त, क्त) < pra-√vas (धातु)
• Form: Kta participle; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; qualifying sutau
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• sutau: (his) two sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Dvivacana; object in apposition to tau
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• ubhau: both
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; subject-complement/apposition to sutau
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)

• bharataśatrughnau: Bharata and Śatrughna
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva: bharata + śatrughna; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana
• Role: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Compound: Dvandva

• mahendrvaruṇopamau: like Mahendra and Varuṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक) + varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: mahendra-varuṇa-upamau ‘comparable to Mahendra and Varuṇa’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana; qualifying bharataśatrughnau
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• rājā'pi = rājā + api (ā + a → ā, often written with avagraha)
• varuṇopamau = varuṇa + upamau (a + u → o)

Context

The glorious king Dasaratha also remembered his sons, Bharata and Satrughna, who were like the great Indra and Varuna, (now) away from home.

The teaching

Even a sovereign bound to rājadharma remains human: remembrance and attachment arise; wise governance must accommodate, not deny, the heart.

Ethical theme

Family-duty / emotional discipline

For your practice

Invites smṛti (mindfulness) of loved ones without losing steadiness; a prompt for vairāgya balanced with compassion.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Paternal yearning, quiet remembrance, distant absence

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Kingship
• Family
• Affection

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Varuṇa

FAQs

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

Dharma here is the king’s responsibility to remain mindful of all his children and household duties, even while planning major state decisions.

What is the narrative situation?

As events move toward Rāma’s elevation, Daśaratha recalls that Bharata and Śatrughna are currently away from Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s parental concern and impartial remembrance of his sons.