Valmiki Ramayana 2.112.8: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 112, Shloka 8

पादुकाप्रदानम्

The Gift of the Sandals and Delegated Kingship

Setting: Chitrakuta region (Rama's forest hermitage vicinity)Places named: Chitrakuta

Devanagari script

ह्लादितस्तेन वाक्येन शुभेन शुभदर्शनः ।

राम स्संहृष्टवदनस्तानृषीनभ्यपूजयत् ॥८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.112.8

Transliteration

hlāditas tena vākyena śubhena śubhadarśanaḥ |

rāmaḥ saṃhṛṣṭavadanas tān ṛṣīn abhyapūjayat ||8||

Translation

శుభదర్శనుడైన శ్రీరాముడు ఆ మంగళవాక్యాలతో హర్షితుడై, ఆనందభరిత ముఖంతో ఆ ఋషులను యథావిధిగా పూజించి సత్కరించాడు।

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Word by Word

• hlāditaḥ: gladdened
• Type: Verb
• Root: hlād (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle; Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense "was gladdened"
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• tena: by that
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental with "vākyena"
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• vākyena: by the statement
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)

• śubhena: auspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of "vākyena"
• Role: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करणविशेषण)

• śubhadarśanaḥ: of auspicious appearance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: śubhaṃ darśanaṃ yasya/śubha-darśanaḥ; used as epithet of Rāma
• Role: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Kartā (कर्ता)

• saṃhṛṣṭavadanaḥ: with delighted countenance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃhṛṣṭa + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: saṃhṛṣṭaṃ vadanaṃ yasya (one whose face is delighted)
• Role: Kartā-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• tān: those
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of "ṛṣīn"
• Role: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)

• ṛṣīn: sages
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• abhyapūjayat: paid homage to / honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; upasarga: abhi-
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• hlāditas tena → hlāditaḥ + tena
• rāma ssaṃhṛṣṭa- → rāmaḥ + saṃhṛṣṭa-
• tānṛṣīn → tān + ṛṣīn
• abhyapūjayat (abhi + apūjayat)

Context

Of pleasing appearance, Rama, gladdened by the auspicious statements (of the sages), paid them homage with a cheerful countenance.

The teaching

Even in personal trial, the righteous maintain vinaya (humility) and honor the wise; auspicious counsel received with gratitude strengthens dharma.

Ethical theme

Ācāra (right conduct)

For your practice

Cultivates bhāva of reverence (guru/ṛṣi-bhakti) and gratitude; supports daily practice of humility and honoring elders/teachers.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Uplifted, reverent, bright

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Respect for sages
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Ṛṣis

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring spiritual authority: respectful acknowledgment of wise counsel sustains righteous decision-making.

What is the narrative situation?

After the sages’ endorsement of the dharmic course, Rāma responds with reverence and gratitude.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and gratitude—Rāma does not treat righteousness as self-sufficient pride, but as guidance to be honored.