Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 20

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

तस्य धर्मार्थविदुषो भावमाज्ञाय सर्वशः।ब्राह्मणा जनमुख्याश्च पौरजानपदै स्सह।।2.2.19।।समेत्य मन्त्रयित्वा तु समतागतबुद्धयः।ऊचुश्च मनसा ज्ञात्वा वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्।।2.2.20।।

Transliteration

tasya dharmārtha-viduṣo bhāvam ājñāya sarvaśaḥ | brāhmaṇā jana-mukhyāś ca paura-jānapadaiḥ saha || 2.2.19 ||

sametya mantrayitvā tu samatāgata-buddhayaḥ | ūcuś ca manasā jñātvā vṛddhaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam || 2.2.20 ||

Translation

Nang lubos nilang maunawaan ang layon ni Daśaratha, na bihasa sa dharma at sa pamamahala, nagtipon ang mga Brāhmaṇa, ang mga pangunahing mamamayan, at ang mga tao ng lungsod at kanayunan. Pagkaraan ng pagsangguni at pagkakaisang-loob, kinausap nila ang matandang Haring Daśaratha, matapos mapagpasyahan sa kanilang isipan ang bagay.

Word by Word

• अनेकवर्षसाहस्रः: of many thousands of years (very old)
• अनेकवर्षसाहस्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक + वर्ष + साहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अनेकानि वर्षसाहस्राणि यस्य (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थ; व्यवहारतः तत्पुरुष-प्रधान-समास-समूह); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of tvam)

• वृद्धः: aged
• वृद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of tvam)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पार्थिव: O king
• पार्थिव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सः: therefore/so
• सः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun (emphatic)

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• युवराजानम्: as prince-regent
• युवराजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate-object/apposition to rāmaṃ

• अभिषिञ्चिस्व: consecrate/crown
• अभिषिञ्चिस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पार्थिवम्: as king (ruler of the earth)
• पार्थिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate complement to rāmaṃ (as king)

Context

Brahmins, kings and other prominent men, inhabitants of towns and villages having fully known the views of Dasaratha who was conversant with artha and dharma joined together and deliberated. They thought out well and having arrived at unanimity in their thinking thus addressed the aged king Dasaratha.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brāhmaṇas
• Dharma
• Artha

FAQs

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

Dharmic governance values collective consultation and consensus—decisions affecting the realm are strengthened by unified, reasoned public counsel.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Daśaratha’s intent, Brāhmaṇas and representatives of society confer together and then speak to the king with a unified conclusion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The assembly’s impartiality and unity (samatāgata-buddhi), and Daśaratha’s stature as a ruler grounded in dharma and artha.