Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.47 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 47

गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः

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

Devanagari script

तान्वेश्मनानाभरणैर्यथाऽर्हं प्रतिपूजितान्।।।।ददर्शालङ्कृतो राजा प्रजापतिरिव प्रजाः।

Transliteration

tān veśmanānābharaṇair yathārhaṃ pratipūjitān |

dadarśālaṅkṛto rājā prajāpatir iva prajāḥ ||

Translation

యథార్హంగా నివాసములు, ఆభరణములతో సత్కరింపబడిన వారిని, తానే అలంకృతుడైన రాజు ప్రజాపతివలె ప్రజలను దర్శించినట్లు దర్శించాడు।

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• वेś्म: with houses/dwellings
• वेś्म: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन) — in compound context

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nānā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), adjective-like modifier meaning 'various'

• आभरणैः: with ornaments
• आभरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• यथा: as / according to
• यथा: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), adverbial particle

• अर्हम्: befittingly
• अर्हम्: Avyaya (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva usage: yathā + arham → yathārham; here resolved as arham, used adverbially (योग्यतया)

• प्रतिपूजितान्: honoured / received respectfully
• प्रतिपूजितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-pūj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with तान्

• ददर्श: saw / beheld
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• अलङ्कृतः: adorned
• अलङ्कृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alaṅ-kṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with राजा

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati (Brahmā)
• प्रजापतिः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): prajānām patiḥ; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), simile particle (उपमा-वाचक)

• प्रजाः: the people
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Context

The king who received them in a befitting manner and provided them with residence and ornaments looked like lord Brahma adorned by the people.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Prajāpati (Brahmā)

FAQs

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

Atithi-dharma and royal duty: honouring guests and allies appropriately (yathārham) is a moral and political obligation of a righteous king.

What is the narrative situation?

Those invited are formally welcomed, given fitting accommodation and honours; Daśaratha then views the assembled dignitaries in the court.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and propriety—Daśaratha’s careful, rank-appropriate respect toward guests.