Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.42 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 42

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

सम्यग्योक्ता श्रेयसां च न विगृह्य कथारुचिः।।2.2.42।।उत्तरोत्तरयुक्तौ च वक्ता वाचस्पतिर्यथा।

Transliteration

samyagyoktā śreyasāṃ ca na vigṛhya kathāruciḥ | uttarottarayuktau ca vaktā vācaspatir yathā || 2.2.42 ||

Translation

Siya’y nagsasalita nang wasto para sa kabutihan, at walang hilig sa pananalitang nagbubunsod ng pagkakahati; sa mas mataas pang pangangatwiran at pagtatalo, siya’y nagsasalita na wari’y si Vācaspati (Bṛhaspati).

Word by Word

• samyak: properly, rightly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• yoktā: one who applies/engages (in)
• yoktā: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: Agent noun (तृन्/तार्-प्रत्यय; योक्ता), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śreyasām: of beneficial things/the good
• śreyasām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक-निपात)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• vigṛhya: having quarreled/causing dissension
• vigṛhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal (अव्ययभाव)

• kathāruciḥ: fond of talk/disputation
• kathāruciḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kathā + ruci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘having taste for talk/disputation’ (here with na = ‘not fond’)

• uttarottarayuktau: in successive reasoning/debate
• uttarottarayuktau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara + uttara + yukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘successive replies/argumentation’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक-निपात)

• vaktā: speaker, orator
• vaktā: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Agent noun (तृन्/तार्-प्रत्यय), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vācaspatīḥ: Vācaspati (Bṛhaspati)
• vācaspatīḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘lord of speech’ (Bṛhaspati)

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमार्थक)

Context

He helps those who take refuge in him. He is not interested in conversation leading to dissentions. But during debates he is eloquent like Brihaspati (establing the truth on the basis of reasoning).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma of speech: speak what is beneficial and true, avoid divisive quarrels, and use reasoned debate only to establish what is right.

What is the narrative situation?

Ministers highlight Rāma’s disciplined communication—peaceful in social life, powerful in principled deliberation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured eloquence: restraint from harmful talk combined with authoritative reasoning when truth must be clarified.