Valmiki Ramayana 2.16.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 22

सुमन्त्रदर्शनम् तथा रामस्य राजदर्शनाय प्रस्थानम्

Sumantra Meets Rama; Rama Departs to See the King

Spoken by Sita to RamaSetting: Ayodhya (royal residence context)

Devanagari script

राज्यं द्विजातिभिर्जुष्टं राजसूयाभिषेचनम् ।

कर्तुमर्हति ते राजा वासवस्येव लोककृत् ॥२२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.16.22

Transliteration

rājyaṁ dvijātibhir juṣṭaṁ rājasūyābhiṣecanam |

kartum arhati te rājā vāsavasyeva lokakṛt ||22||

Translation

“พระราชา สมควรประทานแก่ท่านซึ่งราชอาณาจักรที่พราหมณ์ทั้งหลายค้ำจุน พร้อมทั้งพิธีอภิเษก ‘ราชสูยะ’ ดุจดังผู้สร้างโลกประทานอำนาจแก่ วาสวะ (พระอินทร์) ฉะนั้น”

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Word by Word

• rājyam: kingdom/sovereignty
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā Ekavacana (here object of implied 'to perform' with abhiṣecanam; taken as Dvitīyā)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• dvijātibhiḥ: by brahmins (twice-born)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: dvi + jāti (twice-born)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• juṣṭam: attended/resorted to
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √juṣ (जुष्) (धातु)
• Form: Kta past participle, Napuṃsakaliṅga Prathamā/Dvitīyā Ekavacana; qualifies rājyam/abhiṣecanam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• rājasūya-abhiṣecanam: the rājasūya consecration
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājasūya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiṣecana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (ṣaṣṭhī): rājasūyasya abhiṣecanam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• kartum: to do/to perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)

• arhati: is fit/deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ Present, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• te: for you/to you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Caturthī (चतुर्थी) Ekavacana (dative)
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)

• rājā: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• vāsavasya: of Vāsava (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी) Ekavacana
• Role: Upamāna-sambandha (उपमानसम्बन्ध)

• iva: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-vācaka avyaya (comparative particle)
• Role: Upamā (उपमा)

• lokakṛt: creator of the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (√kṛ; क्तिन्/कृत्-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: lokasya kartā (maker of the world)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• dvijātibhirjuṣṭam = dvijātibhiḥ + juṣṭam (visarga sandhi)
• kartum-arhati = kartum + arhati
• vāsavasy-iva = vāsavasya + iva

Context

The king will bestow upon you, like the creator of the world (Brahma) bestowing on Indra, the kingdom served by brahmins who are fit to perform 'Rajasuya' sacrifice at the time of consecration.

The teaching

Kingship is dharmically grounded when upheld by learned counsel and consecrated through rightful rites; power is for loka-kalyāṇa.

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma

Devotion and practice

Encourages seeing authority as sacred trust; supports dharmic intention before undertaking leadership roles.

Deity praised

Vāsava (Indra) and the cosmic Creator (lokakṛt) as exemplars of ordained sovereignty

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Regal, legitimizing, uplifting

Themes

• Dharma
• Maryada
• Rajadharma
• Satya
• Vedic rites
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• Daśaratha
• dvijāti (brahmins)
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Lokakṛt (Brahmā)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma is foregrounded: legitimate sovereignty is grounded in sacred order—supported by brahmins and consecrated by righteous rites, not mere power.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā speaks auspiciously to Rāma, anticipating that King Daśaratha will confer kingship and perform the royal consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s śubha-vāk (auspicious speech) and faith in righteous kingship—she frames political transition in terms of dharma and sacred legitimacy.