Valmiki Ramayana 2.15.1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 1

अभिषेकसज्जा तथा सुमन्त्रस्य प्रेषणम्

Coronation Preparations and Sumantra’s Commission

Devanagari script

ते तु तां रजनीमुष्य ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः।उपतस्थुरुपस्थानं सह राजपुरोहिताः।।2.15.1।।

Transliteration

te tu tāṃ rajanīm uṣya brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ |

upatasthur upasthānaṃ saha rājapurohitāḥ || 2.15.1 ||

Translation

ఆ రాత్రి జాగరణ చేసిన వేదపారంగత బ్రాహ్మణులు, రాజపురోహితులతో కూడి, ప్రాతఃకాలంలో అభిషేక మండపంలోని ఉపస్థానస్థలానికి సమవేతులయ్యారు।

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/particle), contrast/emphasis

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म; with ‘उष्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेष्य ‘रजनीम्’

• रजनीम्: night
• रजनीम्: Karma (कर्म; with ‘उष्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उष्य: having spent (the night)
• उष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (वस् धातु, उष्य = क्त्वा-लोप/absolutive variant)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-प्राय (absolutive), ‘having stayed (the night)’

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to ‘ते’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वेदपारगाः: well-versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda-pāraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘ब्राह्मणाः’; ‘वेदस्य पारगः’ (one who has gone to the far shore of Veda)

• उपतस्थुः: assembled/attended
• उपतस्थुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपस्थानम्: the assembly place/pavilion
• उपस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/associative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition/adverb), ‘together with’

• राजपुरोहिताः: royal priests
• राजपुरोहिताः: Sahakartṛ (सहकर्ता/associate subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-purohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘राज्ञः पुरोहिताः’

Context

The brahmins well-versed in the Vedas stayed waiting all night and assembled at the pavilion (for the consecration ceremony) along with royal priests.

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as faithful adherence to sacred duty: learned brāhmaṇas and royal priests keep vigil and present themselves for the rite, upholding the integrity of public, Vedic kingship rituals.

What is the narrative situation?

On the eve of Rāma’s yuvarāja-abhiṣeka, the ritual specialists remain through the night and gather at the consecration pavilion to begin the ceremony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Professional integrity and discipline (niyama): the ritual experts demonstrate steadiness, readiness, and reverence for prescribed procedure.