Valmiki Ramayana 2.2.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 16

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

यद्यप्येषा मम प्रीतिर्हितमन्यद्विचिन्त्यताम्।अन्या मध्यस्थचिन्ता हि विमर्दाभ्यधिकोदया।।2.2.16।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.2.16

Transliteration

yady apy eṣā mama prītiḥ hitam anyad vicintyatām | anyā madhyastha-cintā hi vimardābhy adhikodayā || 2.2.16 ||

Translation

纵然此事合我心意，也当再思一条更利于众生之道；因为公正之心的思量，经由审议，往往生出更大的利益。

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Word by Word

• yadi: if/though
• yadi: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/conditional particle (सम्बन्ध-निपात)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive 'even'

• eṣā: this
• eṣā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun qualifying prītiḥ

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītiḥ: preference/liking
• prītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hitam: welfare; what is beneficial
• hitam: Karta (कर्ता) of vicintyatām
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'welfare/benefit' as subject of vicintyatām

• anyat: another/alternative
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying hitam

• vicintyatām: let it be considered
• vicintyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cint (वि + चिन्त् धातु)
• Form: Imperative passive (लोट् कर्मणि), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); 'let it be considered'

• anyā: another
• anyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying cintā

• madhyastha-cintā: impartial counsel
• madhyastha-cintā: Karta (कर्ता) (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyastha (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'impartial deliberation/opinion'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), indeed/for

• vimardāt: from discussion/deliberation
• vimardāt: Apādāna (अपादान) (source: from deliberation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimarda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhyadhikā: greater
• abhyadhikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying udayā

• udayā: benefit arises
• udayā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'arising/benefit' (contextual)

Context

Although this is what I would like to do, please suggest alternative ways of achieving the welfare (of this kingdom). Deliberations by the unbiased (on this issue) may bring good.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Impartial deliberation is dharmic decision-making: personal preference should yield to what best serves collective welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha explicitly invites unbiased debate and alternative proposals, even against his own preference.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fair-mindedness and commitment to the common good over personal desire.