Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 108, Shloka 9

जाबाल्युपदेशः

Jabali’s Pragmatic Counsel to Rama

Devanagari script

राजभोगाननुभवन्महार्हान्पार्थिवात्मज।विहर त्वमयोध्यायां यथा शक्रस्त्रिविष्टपे।।।।

Transliteration

rājabhogān anubhavan mahārhān pārthivātmaja | vihara tvam ayodhyāyāṃ yathā śakras triviṣṭape ||

Translation

Hỡi hoàng tử, hãy thụ hưởng những vinh lạc vương giả vô giá tại Ayodhyā, như Śakra (Indra) vui chơi nơi cõi trời.

Word by Word

• rājabhogān: royal pleasures
• rājabhogān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (राज्ञः भोगाः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• anubhavan: enjoying
• anubhavan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√bhū (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी-कर्तरि; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with (tvam)

• mahārhān: inestimable
• mahārhān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + arh(a) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् अर्हः = very valuable); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifying rājabhogān

• pārthivātmaja: O king's son
• pārthivātmaja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पार्थिवस्य आत्मजः); पुल्लिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• vihara: enjoy/roam
• vihara: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• ayodhyāyām: in Ayodhyā
• ayodhyāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• yathā: as
• yathā: Upama-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• śakraḥ: Indra
• śakraḥ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• triviṣṭape: in heaven
• triviṣṭape: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triviṣṭapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Context

O king's son, enjoy inestimable royal pleasures in the city of Ayodhya like Indra in heaven.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Rāma
• Śakra (Indra)
• Triviṣṭapa (heaven)

FAQs

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

It presents the worldly incentive side of kingship—prosperity and enjoyment—implicitly arguing that accepting royal duty brings legitimate artha and kāma within the bounds of rājadharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Jābāli continues persuading Rāma to return from exile, appealing to the grandeur and pleasures of rightful rule in Ayodhyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse indirectly tests Rāma’s restraint: whether he will be moved by pleasure and power, or remain anchored in satya and obedience to his father’s promise.