Valmiki Ramayana 2.5.4 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 5, Shloka 4

अभिषेकोपवास-आदेशः

Coronation Preparations and the Fast Enjoined

Devanagari script

तथेति च स राजानमुक्त्वा वेदविदां वरः।स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान्ययौ रामनिवेशनम्।।2.5.3।।उपवासयितुं रामं मन्त्रवन्मन्त्रकोविदः।ब्राह्मं रथवरं युक्तमास्थाय सुदृढव्रतः।।2.5.4।।

Transliteration

upavāsayituṃ rāmaṃ mantravan mantrakovidaḥ |

brāhmaṃ rathavaraṃ yuktam āsthāya sudṛḍhavrataḥ ||

Translation

منتر کے ماہر اور عہد میں ثابت قدم، وہ منتر سمیت رام کو اُپواس کرانے کے ارادے سے، خوب جُتا ہوا برہمنوں کے لائق بہترین رتھ پر سوار ہوئے۔

Word by Word

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

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

• prāpya: having reached
• prāpya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + āp (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/य-प्रत्यय), from √prāp (प्राप्), ‘having reached’

• pāṇḍura-abhra-ghana-prabham: shining like a mass of pale clouds
• pāṇḍura-abhra-ghana-prabham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṇḍura + abhra + ghana + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Neuter Accusative Singular; multi-member descriptive compound qualifying ‘bhavanam’: ‘having the radiance of a mass of pale clouds’

• tisraḥ: three
• tisraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective, Feminine Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन)

• kakṣyāḥ: courtyards/enclosures
• kakṣyāḥ: Karma (कर्म) (extent traversed/entered)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन)

• rathena: by chariot
• rathena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

• eva: indeed; itself
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• viveśa: entered
• viveśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + viś (धातु)
• Form: Verb, Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada; from √vi-viś (विविश्)

• muni-sattamaḥ: the foremost sage
• muni-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘best of sages’

Context

On seeing Vasistha the king descended from the throne and enquired whether he had performed the mission to which the ascetic replied affirmatively.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Rāma
• Mantra (sacred formulae)
• Ratha (chariot)
• Upavāsa (fast)

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined preparation for sacred duty: fasting and mantra-guided rites cultivate purity, restraint, and truth-aligned intention before major life and state transitions.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha sets out with ritual readiness to instruct Rāma to observe a fast as part of the impending ceremonial proceedings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast observance (vrata), ritual competence, and responsible guidance by a guru/priest are highlighted.