Valmiki Ramayana 2.4.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 19

अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः

Rāma Summoned; Pushya Coronation Decision

Devanagari script

प्रायेण हि निमित्तानामीदृशानां समुद्भवे।राजा हि मृत्युमाप्नोति घोरां वाऽऽपदमृच्छति।।2.4.19।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.4.19

Transliteration

prāyeṇa hi nimittānām īdṛśānāṃ samudbhave | rājā hi mṛtyum āpnoti ghorāṃ vā āpadam ṛcchati || 2.4.19 ||

Translation

Hễ những điềm báo như thế phát sinh, thường là vua hoặc gặp tử vong, hoặc phải chịu một tai họa ghê gớm.

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Word by Word

• prāyeṇa: generally
• prāyeṇa: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially: 'generally')

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• nimittānām: of omens
• nimittānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• īdṛśānām: of such (kinds)
• īdṛśānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īdṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of nimittānām)

• samudbhave: upon occurrence / in the arising
• samudbhave: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• mṛtyum: death
• mṛtyum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āpnōti: attains / meets
• āpnōti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ghorām: terrible
• ghorām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (of āpadam)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive: 'or')

• āpadam: calamity
• āpadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ṛcchati: encounters / falls into
• ṛcchati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ṛcch (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

When such ominous signs appear, usually the king either meets with death or faces a grave calamity.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• rājā (king)
• nimitta (omens)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma includes vigilance and timely action: a ruler must recognize warning signs and act responsibly to protect the realm, acknowledging life’s uncertainty.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, feeling anxiety and reading ominous signs, urges quick arrangements for Rāma’s consecration as heir-apparent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s sense of responsibility and foresight as a king—his concern that the kingdom not be endangered by delay.