Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.3-4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shlokas 3-4

अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः

Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined

Devanagari script

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः ।

स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम् ॥३॥

उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः ।

ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.5.3-4

Transliteration

tatheti ca sa rājānamuktvā vedavidāṃ varaḥ |

svayaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavānyayau rāmaniveśanam ||3||

upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravanmantrakovidaḥ |

brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktamāsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ ||4||

Translation

بادشاہ سے 'خیر ہو' کہہ کر، برکت والے واسِشٹھ، وید جاننے والوں میں سب سے بڑے، منتر میں ماہر اور اپنے عہد میں پکے، خود رام کے گھر گئے، برہمن کے لائق بہترین رتھ پر سوار ہو کر جو گھوڑوں سے جوتا گیا تھا، تاکہ رام کو روزہ رکھنے کی ہدایت کریں۔

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Word by Word

• tathā: so; thus
• tathā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (रीति/प्रकार)

• iti: (saying) ‘so’
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, quotative particle

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine Nominative Singular

• rājānam: to the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘uktvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), from √vac (वच्)

• vedavidām: of the knowers of the Vedas
• vedavidām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedavid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural (बहुवचन)

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; apposition to ‘vasiṣṭhaḥ’

• svayam: personally
• svayam: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic adverb

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasistha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• bhagavān: venerable
• bhagavān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective used substantively, Masculine Nominative Singular; honorific

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Verb, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada; from √yā (या)

• rāma-niveśanam: to Rama’s dwelling
• rāma-niveśanam: Karma (कर्म) / Gati-karma destination (गत्यर्थकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + niveśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): ‘Rama’s residence’

• upavāsayitum: to make (him) fast
• upavāsayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upavās (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Infinitive (तुमुन्), Causative sense ‘to make (someone) fast’; from √upavās (उपवास्)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• mantravat: with mantras
• mantravat: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mantravat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Avyaya, adverbial -वत् form (वत्-प्रत्यय), ‘with/according to mantras’

• mantra-kovidaḥ: skilled in mantras
• mantra-kovidaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘skilled in mantras’

• brāhmam: befitting a Brahmin
• brāhmam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Neuter Accusative Singular; agrees with ‘rathavaram’

• ratha-varam: the best chariot
• ratha-varam: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘āsthāya’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘excellent chariot’

• yuktam: harnessed
• yuktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), from √yuj (युज्), Neuter Accusative Singular; agrees with ‘rathavaram’

• āsthāya: having mounted
• āsthāya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + sthā (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय), from √ā-sthā (आस्था), ‘having mounted/ascended’

• sudṛḍha-vrataḥ: firm in vows
• sudṛḍha-vrataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + dṛḍha + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘one whose vow is very firm’

Context

Venerabel Vasistha, the best amongst the knowers of the Vedas, skilled in mantras and firm in his vows said to the king, 'Be it so.' Thereafter, mounted on the best of the chariots befitting a brahmin, with horses harnesed he proceeded personally to the abode of Rama to ask him to undertake a fast in accompaniment with mantras preceding the installation ceremony.

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha
• Dasaratha
• Rama
• Vedas

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates Guru-Shishya Dharma (the sacred teacher-student relationship) and Rajadharma. Vasistha's immediate compliance with the king's request shows the sage's duty to guide the royal family, while the ritual fast represents the Vedic tradition of spiritual preparation before assuming important responsibilities.

What is the narrative situation?

King Dasaratha has instructed Vasistha to prepare Rama for his coronation by having him observe a ritual fast. Vasistha, the family priest and Vedic sage, accepts the command and personally travels to Rama's residence in a brahmin's chariot to convey these instructions.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of Acharyabhakti (devotion to one's teacher) and Vedic discipline are emphasized. Vasistha's firmness in vows (sudṛḍhavrata) and expertise in mantras (mantrakovida) highlight the ideal qualities of a spiritual preceptor, while his personal visit shows the honor due to the heir apparent.