Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.15 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 15

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

सत्कृत्य द्विजमुख्यानां श्वःप्रभाते प्रदीयताम्।घृतं दधि च लाजाश्च दक्षिणाश्चापि पुष्कलाः।।।।

Transliteration

satkṛtya dvijamukhyānāṃ śvaḥ prabhāte pradīyatām | ghṛtaṃ dadhi ca lājāś ca dakṣiṇāś cāpi puṣkalāḥ ||

Translation

ద్విజముఖ్యులను యథావిధిగా సత్కరించి రేపు ప్రాతఃకాలంలో వారికి నెయ్యి, పెరుగు, లాజాలు (వేపిన ధాన్యం) మరియు విస్తారమైన దక్షిణలు ఇవ్వబడుగాక।

Word by Word

• satkṛtya: having honoured
• satkṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sat-√kṛ (कृदन्त; ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-रूपेण क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having honoured'

• dvija-mukhyānām: of the foremost brahmins
• dvija-mukhyānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), षष्ठी (Gen), बहुवचन (pl); तत्पुरुष: 'of the chief among brahmins'

• śvaḥ: tomorrow
• śvaḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śvaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• prabhāte: at dawn/early morning
• prabhāte: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (masc/neut usage), सप्तमी (Loc), एकवचन (sg)

• pradīyatām: let (it) be given
• pradīyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada); कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): 'let it be given'

• ghṛtam: ghee
• ghṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• dadhi: curd
• dadhi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• lājāḥ: parched grains/roasted corn
• lājāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lājā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dakṣiṇāḥ: gifts/fees (to priests)
• dakṣiṇāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक (particle: 'also/even')

• puṣkalāḥ: abundant
• puṣkalāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣkala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन (pl); विशेषण to dakṣiṇāḥ (and/or items)

Context

As soon as the Sun rises tomorrow, arrangements be made for Swastivachana (a benedictory utterance). Brahmins be invited and seats provided to them.

Characters & Entities

• ghṛta (ghee)
• dadhi (curd)
• lājā (roasted grain)
• dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts)

FAQs

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

Honouring spiritual authority through appropriate offerings (dakṣiṇā) is presented as a duty that sustains social and ritual order.

What is the narrative situation?

Specific dawn-time distributions are scheduled as part of the public-religious preparations for the heir-apparent’s installation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect (satkāra) and generosity: the giver ensures both reverence and sufficiency rather than mere formality.