Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.10: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 10
अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः
Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined
Spoken by Vasistha to RamaSetting: Ayodhyā palace (abhiṣeka context)Places named: Ayodhyā (implied)
प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता हि यौवराज्ये नराधिपः ।
पिता दशरथः प्रीत्या ययातिं नहुषो यथा ॥१०॥
prātas tvām abhiṣektā hi yauvarājye narādhipaḥ |
pitā daśarathaḥ prītyā yayātiṃ nahuṣo yathā ||10||
నిజంగా, రేపు ఉదయమే నీ తండ్రి మహారాజు దశరథుడు ప్రేమతో నిన్ను యువరాజ్యమున అభిషేకించును—నహుషుడు యయాతిని అభిషేకించినట్లే।
Sandhi Notes
- प्रातस्त्वामभिषेक्ता = प्रातः + त्वाम् + अभिषेक्ता
- ययातिं नहुषो यथा = ययातिम् + नहुषः + यथा (anusvāra/ṃ before n)
Your father, king Dasaratha, will be pleased to coronate you as heir-apparent early tomorrow morning as Nahusa did (to his son) Yayati.
The teaching
Succession is framed as a dharmic rite grounded in affection and precedent, not mere ambition.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma / putra-sneha
For your practice
Cultivating gratitude and humility at moments of honor; remembering that auspicious plans still require steadiness when fate turns.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Auspicious promise, dynastic continuity, joyful anticipation
Themes
- Dharma
- Rājadharma
- Kingship
- Lineage
- Ritual (abhiṣeka)
The comparison to ancient kings underscores continuity of dharma across yugas, while reminding that roles change though the Self remains unchanged.
The stress on prātaḥ and rite evokes the sacrificial dawn symbolism (uṣas) valued in Vedic thought (broad echo).
Prātaḥkāla
- Dasharatha and Rama
- Father joyfully consecrating son (affectionate/proud)
- Nahusha and Yayati
- Father consecrating son (exemplary precedent) (approving/legitimizing)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaƺ 2.4ÿ (abhiṣeka announcements); Purāṇic/itihāsa traditions about Yayāti and Nahuṣa (genealogical exempla)
Itihāsa as normative precedent for rājadharma
Ayodhyākāƴ7: the promised morning consecration is thwarted by Kaikeyī’s demands (2.7ÿ)
Anuƶ3ubh
Joyful-ceremonial
Brighter madhyama-tāra lift on prātas and prītyā; cadence softened at yathā
FAQs
Legitimate succession is framed as dharmic when performed publicly and ritually, guided by precedent (itihāsa/purāṇic exemplars) and affectionate responsibility.
Vasiṣṭha informs Rāma of the imminent consecration as heir-apparent, citing an ancient royal precedent to validate the act.
Daśaratha’s affection (prīti) and intent to honor Rāma formally; also Rāma’s worthiness implied by the planned consecration.
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