Valmiki Ramayana 2.1.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 23

गुणप्रशंसा-युवराजनिर्णयः

Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent

Setting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

निभृत स्संवृताकारो गुप्तमन्त्र स्सहायवान् ।

अमोघक्रोधहर्षश्च त्यागसंयमकालवित् ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.1.23

Transliteration

nibhṛtaḥ saṃvṛtākāro gupta-mantraḥ sahāyavān |

amogha-krodha-harṣaś ca tyāga-saṃyama-kāla-vit ||23||

Translation

ท่านสุขุมสำรวม ปกปิดความในใจไว้ภายใน ปรึกษาหารืออย่างลับและมีสหายผู้ภักดี โทสะและความยินดีของท่านไม่เคยสูญเปล่า—ท่านรู้กาลอันควรแก่การให้ทาน และกาลอันควรแก่การสำรวมตน

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Word by Word

• nibhṛtaḥ: quiet
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nibhṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘modest/quiet’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• saṃvṛta-ākāraḥ: self-controlled in appearance
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃvṛta (कृदन्त; √vṛ) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘संवृतः आकारः यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one whose outward form is restrained/controlled’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• gupta-mantraḥ: secret in counsel
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gupta (कृदन्त; √gup) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘गुप्तः मन्त्रः यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one whose counsel is secret/kept secret’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• sahāyavān: having allies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahāya (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having companions/allies’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• amogha-krodha-harṣaḥ: whose anger and joy were effective
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amogha (प्रातिपदिक) + krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (क्रोध + हर्ष) इति द्वन्द्व + अमोघ (कर्मधारय-प्रायः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘whose anger and joy are not futile (effective)’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Dvandva

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• tyāga-saṃyama-kāla-vit: knowing when to renounce and when to restrain
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tyāga (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyama (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)→vit (कृदन्त)
• Form: समास: (त्याग + संयम) इति द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष ‘कालं वेत्ति’ → kāla-vit; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘knower of the proper time for renunciation and restraint’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• saṃvṛtākāro = saṃvṛta-ākāraḥ
• guptamantraḥ = gupta-mantraḥ
• amoghakrodhaharṣaś ca = amogha-krodha-harṣaḥ + ca
• tyāgasaṃyamakālavit = tyāga-saṃyama-kāla-vit

Context

He (Rama) was modest and did not reveal his inner feelings. He counselled in secrecy and had good friends. Never was his anger or pleasure in vain. He knew the occasion when to sacrifce and when to exercise restraint.

The teaching

Power must be governed by discretion: secrecy in counsel, loyalty in alliance, and emotions deployed only when just and timely—tyāga and saṃyama balanced by kāla-jñāna.

Ethical theme

Nīti / rājadharma

Devotion and practice

Practice of mauna, emotional regulation, and discerning timing; contemplation of Rāma as model of saṃyama.

Deity praised

Rāma

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Self-contained, strategic, measured

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Self-control
• Kingship
• Maryada
• Statecraft

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is timely self-governance: emotions and power must be purposeful (amogha), guided by discretion, and expressed at the proper time as either generosity or restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The text emphasizes qualities needed for governance—confidential counsel, reliable allies, and disciplined emotional expression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured discretion: controlled speech and emotion, and knowing when to be firm versus when to yield.