Valmiki Ramayana 2.12.28 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 28

द्वादशः सर्गः — Kaikeyi’s Boons and Dasaratha’s Moral Collapse

Ayodhya Kanda 12

Devanagari script

परिवादोऽपवादो वा राघवे नोपपद्यते।।2.12.27।।सान्त्वयन्सर्वभूतानि राम श्शुद्धेन चेतसा।गृह्णाति मनुजव्याघ्र प्रियैर्विषयवासिनः।।2.12.28।।

Transliteration

sāntvayan sarvabhūtāni rāmaḥ śuddhena cetasā | gṛhṇāti manujavyāghra priyair viṣayavāsinaḥ ||

Translation

శుద్ధచిత్తుడైన రాముడు—మనుజవ్యాఘ్రుడు—సర్వభూతాలను సాంత్వనపరుస్తూ, ప్రజలకు ప్రీతికరమైన కార్యాల ద్వారా రాజ్య నివాసులను తనవైపు ఆకర్షిస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• sāntvayan: appeasing, consoling
• sāntvayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sāntv (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle/शतृ), Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; parasmaipada sense; 'while appeasing'

• sarva-bhūtāni: all beings
• sarva-bhūtāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/कर्म), Bahuvacana (pl.); karmadhāraya: 'sarvāṇi bhūtāni'

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/कर्ता), Ekavacana (sg.)

• śuddhena: with pure
• śuddhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃ (m./n.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/करण), Ekavacana (sg.)

• cetasā: by (his) mind/heart
• cetasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/करण), Ekavacana (sg.)

• gṛhṇāti: wins over, attracts
• gṛhṇāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada

• manuṣa-vyāghra: O tiger among men
• manuṣa-vyāghra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana vibhakti (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (sg.); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'manuṣyāṇāṃ vyāghraḥ'

• priyaiḥ: by pleasing (means/deeds)
• priyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ/Napuṃ (m./n.), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/करण), Bahuvacana (pl.); used substantively 'by pleasing (acts/means)'

• viṣaya-vāsinaḥ: the inhabitants of the realm
• viṣaya-vāsinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/कर्ता), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: 'viṣaye vāsinaḥ' (locative relation)

Context

The best among men, Rama has won the trust of the inhabitants of the country by securing their affection with a pure heart and by doing acts dear to them. Therefore, neither a word of blame nor reproach applies to this scion of the Raghu dynasty (Rama).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership is grounded in purity of intention and benevolent conduct that secures the welfare and trust of the people.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha describes Rāma’s relationship with the citizens to show that exile is unjust and socially disruptive.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s compassion, public-spiritedness, and purity of heart (śuddha-cetas) are emphasized.