Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.44: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 44

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः · Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान्राज्यफलानि च ।

जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये ॥४४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.44

Transliteration

saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogān tvam iṣṭān rājyaphalāni ca |

jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvad-artham abhikāmaye ||44||

Translation

హే సౌమిత్రి! నీకు ఇష్టమైన భోగాలను అనుభవించు, రాజ్యఫలములను కూడా పొందు. నిజంగా నేను జీవితం మరియు రాజ్యము—ఈ రెండింటినీ నీ కోసమే కోరుతున్నాను.

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Word by Word

• सौमित्रे: O son of Sumitra
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमित्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; vocative
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• भुङ्क्ष्व: enjoy
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; imperative (ātmanepada) ‘enjoy/eat’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• भोगान्: pleasures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), बहुवचन; accusative plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• स्वम्: your own
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; adjective to bhogān ‘your own’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• इष्टान्: desired
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; adjective to bhogān ‘desired’
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• राज्यफलानि: fruits of kingship
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राज्यस्य फलानि)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• जीवितम्: life
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-सूचक-अव्यय (particle)
• Role: Nidarsana/Hetu (हेतु)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• त्वदर्थम्: for your sake
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वद् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘for your sake’
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• अभिकामये: I desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+कम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; present ‘I desire’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान् = भोगान् + स्वम् + इष्टान्
• त्वदर्थमभिकामये = त्वदर्थम् + अभिकामये

Context

O, son of Sumitra, enjoy all pleasures you wish and the fruits of royalty. I desire this life and kingdom for your sake only.

The teaching

Sovereignty and even life are to be treated as instruments for dharma and loved ones, not as objects of egoic possession.

Duties in tension

• Personal claim to kingship vs. duty to family harmony and brother’s welfare
• Artha (power/pleasure) vs. dharma (right conduct and restraint)

Ethical theme

Rajadharma / kuladharma

How it resolves

Renunciatory prioritization of relational dharma

For your practice

Cultivates tyaga and seva-bhava—offering one’s gains for the welfare of others; useful for daily reflection on non-attachment.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Fraternal devotion, self-sacrificing, tender resolve

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Selflessness
• Brotherly love

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Sumitra

FAQs

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

Dharma in leadership includes selfless intent—Rama frames personal gains (life and power) as instruments for loved ones’ welfare, not ego.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama speaks intimately to Lakshmana, emphasizing that the benefits of kingship are meant to be shared with him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Selflessness and affectionate responsibility toward a devoted sibling.