Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 31

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

धर्मज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च शीलवाननसूयकः।

क्षान्तः सान्त्वयिता श्लक्ष्णः कृतज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः।।2.2.31।।

Transliteration

dharmajñaḥ satyasandhaś ca śīlavān anasūyakaḥ |

kṣāntaḥ sāntvayitā ślakṣṇaḥ kṛtajño vijitendriyaḥ || 2.2.31 ||

Translation

他通达正法，守信于誓愿，品行端正而无嫉妒；能忍能恕，善于安慰众人，温柔和雅，知恩图报，并能制御诸根。

Word by Word

• dharmajñaḥ: knower of dharma
• dharmajñaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; धर्मं जानाति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• satya-sandhaḥ: true to his vow/pledge
• satya-sandhaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + sandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya; सत्यः सन्धः/सन्धा यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śīlavān: of good conduct
• śīlavān: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīlavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• anasūyakaḥ: free from envy
• anasūyakaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anasūyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• kṣāntaḥ: forbearing
• kṣāntaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP from √kṣam), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sāntvayitā: one who consoles
• sāntvayitā: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sāntv (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun; तृन्/तृच्-प्रत्यय sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ślakṣṇaḥ: gentle, mild
• ślakṣṇaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ślakṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛtajñaḥ: grateful
• kṛtajñaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; कृतं जानाति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vijitendriyaḥ: one who has conquered the senses
• vijitendriyaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijita (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; इन्द्रियाणि विजितानि यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

This son of the Raghus (Rama) is soft-spoken, steadfast, always serene, truthful and free from envy. He is pleasing to all beings. He serves those elderly brahmins versed in many lores. With these virtues his incomparable glory, fame and splendour have steadily grown.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as inner discipline expressed outwardly: truthfulness, non-envy, gentleness, gratitude, and self-control together form the moral foundation of leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

In the course of praising Rāma, the speaker enumerates his personal virtues as evidence of his dharmic nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vijitendriyatā (sense-control) supporting satya and compassion—virtue as stable self-mastery, not momentary impulse.