Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 2, Shloka 41

यौवराज्य-प्रस्तावः

Proposal for Rāma’s Installation as Heir-Apparent

Devanagari script

सत्यवादी महेष्वासो वृद्धसेवी जितेन्द्रियः।।2.2.41।।स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषी च धर्मं सर्वात्मना श्रितः।

Transliteration

satyavādī maheṣvāso vṛddhasevī jitendriyaḥ | smitapūrvābhibhāṣī ca dharmaṃ sarvātmanā śritaḥ || 2.2.41 ||

Translation

他言语真实，是大弓手，敬事长者，克制诸根；他含笑而语，并以全身心归依于达摩（正法）。

Word by Word

• satyavādī: truth-speaking
• satyavādī: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); upapada-tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘truth-speaking’

• maheṣvāsaḥ: great archer
• maheṣvāsaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + iṣvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘great archer’

• vṛddhasevī: servant of the aged/elder-serving
• vṛddhasevī: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha + sevin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); upapada-tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘one who serves elders’

• jitendriyaḥ: self-controlled (senses conquered)
• jitendriyaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘one whose senses are conquered’

• smitapūrva: with a smile beforehand
• smitapūrva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smita + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used adverbially as prior-condition; accusative-like adverbial (स्मितपूर्वम् अर्थे)

• abhibhāṣī: one who speaks (to others)
• abhibhāṣī: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi√bhāṣ + in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Agent noun (णिनि/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक-निपात)

• dharmam: dharma, righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvātmanā: wholeheartedly
• sarvātmanā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarva + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) with instrumental sense; adverb ‘with whole self/entirely’

• śritaḥ: having resorted to/abiding in
• śritaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śri (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

.He is one who speaks the truth. He is a great archer, one who has conquered his senses and serves the aged. He speaks with a smile and protects dharma with all his heart.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• dharma

FAQs

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

Dharma grounded in satya and self-mastery: truthfulness, restraint, and reverence for elders are presented as the foundation of righteous leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

Ministers enumerate Rāma’s defining virtues as evidence of his worthiness for royal responsibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) joined with jitendriyatā (self-control) and vṛddha-sevā (service to elders).