Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.14: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 14

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

प्रशस्तमन्नं गुणवद्दधिक्षीरोपसेचनम् ।

द्विजानां शतसाहस्रे यत्प्रकाममलं भवेत् ॥१४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.14

Transliteration

praśastam annaṃ guṇavad dadhikṣīropasecanam |

dvijānāṃ śatasāhasre yat prakāmam alaṃ bhavet ||14||

Translation

ప్రశస్తమైన అన్నం సిద్ధం చేయబడుగాక—దధి, క్షీరములతో సమృద్ధమైన ఉత్తమ భోజనం—లక్ష మంది ద్విజులు ఇష్టమొచ్చినంతగా భుజించి తృప్తి పొందునట్లు తగినంతగా ఉండుగాక।

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Word by Word

• praśastam: excellent
• praśastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (कृदन्त; √śas प्रशंसा-करणे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण (adjective) to annaṃ

• annam: food/rice
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• guṇavat: of good quality
• guṇavat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); विशेषण to dadhikṣīropasecanam

• dadhikṣīra-upasecanam: curd-and-milk accompaniment (food with curd & milk)
• dadhikṣīra-upasecanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + upasecana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास: दधि-क्षीर-उपसेचनम् = 'curd-and-milk accompaniment/pouring'

• dvijānām: of the brahmins
• dvijānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), षष्ठी (Gen), बहुवचन (pl)

• śata-sāhasre: for a hundred thousand (brahmins)
• śata-sāhasre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (sg); द्विगु-समास: शतसाहस्रम् = 'a hundred-thousand'; here locative 'in/for a hundred thousand (persons)'

• yat: which/whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• prakāmam: to one’s full desire; abundantly
• prakāmam: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prakāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); manner/extent

• alam: enough; sufficient
• alam: Prayojaka-bhāva (भाव/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: alam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable particle); पर्याप्त्यर्थे (in the sense of sufficiency)

• bhavet: should be/is to be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Context

Arrange fine rice cooked with milk and curd sufficient for a hundred thousand brahmins to eat to their heart's content.

Characters & Entities

• dvija (brahmins)
• dadhi (curd)

FAQs

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

Dāna and atithi-satkara: righteous rule expresses itself through generous, respectful provision for learned guests and ritual participants.

What is the narrative situation?

As preparations begin for Rāma’s yuvarāja consecration, arrangements are ordered for a massive brahmin-feeding with high-quality food.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and ceremonial propriety: the king ensures abundance and quality, reflecting commitment to dharmic public rites.