Shloka 24

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वैव वचनं यन्मे राघवं पतिमिच्छथ।राजान स्संशयोऽयं मे किमिदं ब्रूत तत्त्वतः।।2.2.24।।

Transliteration

śrutvaiva vacanaṃ yan me rāghavaṃ patim icchatha |

rājānaḥ saṃśayo ’yaṃ me kim idaṃ brūta tattvataḥ || 2.2.24 ||

Translation

హే రాజులారా! నా మాట విన్న వెంటనే మీరు రాఘవుడు శ్రీరాముని అధిపతిగా (రాజుగా) కోరుతున్నారు. అయితే నాకు సందేహం కలుగుతోంది—నిజంగా చెప్పండి, ఇది మీ అంతరంగపు దృఢ నిశ్చయమునుంచే వచ్చిందా?

Word by Word

कथम्how/why

नुindeed (interrogative)

मयिwhen I

धर्मेणrighteously

पृथिवीम्the earth/kingdom

अनुशासतिgoverns/rules

भवन्तःyou (sirs)

द्रष्टुम्to see

इच्छन्तिwish

युवराजम्the prince-regent

ममmy

आत्मजम्son

Context

O kings!, soon after listening to my words, all of you wish Rama to be king. (But) I doubt (in my mind) whether you have said it from your heart৷৷

Characters & Entities

Daśaratha

Rāma

Raghu (dynastic reference)

FAQs

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

Satya as a pillar of dharma: Daśaratha asks for truthful, heartfelt counsel. Governance should not rest on flattery or haste but on sincere, verified intention.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to the proposal for Rāma’s kingship by questioning whether the request is genuinely meant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s commitment to truth-testing and responsible decision-making in matters of succession.