Valmiki Ramayana 2.3.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 2

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: अयोध्या (implied royal court)

Devanagari script

अहोऽस्मि परमप्रीतः प्रभावश्चातुलो मम ।

यन्मे ज्येष्ठं प्रियं पुत्रं यौवराज्यस्थमिच्छथ ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.3.2

Transliteration

aho ’smi paramaprītaḥ prabhāvaś cātulo mama |

yan me jyeṣṭhaṃ priyaṃ putraṃ yauvarājyastham icchatha ||2||

Translation

啊，我心中至喜；我的光辉亦无与伦比——因为你们愿意立我所爱之长子为太子（yuvarāja），居摄辅政之位。

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Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इत्यर्थक)
• Role: Avyaya (अव्यय)

• प्रत्यर्च्य: having honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)

• तान्: them
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ब्राह्मणान्: brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; addressees
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• इदम्: this
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of 'अब्रवीत्'
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasistha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; in apposition/addressee list
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वामदेवम्: Vamadeva
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction
• Role: Avyaya (अव्यय)

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Plural
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)
• Role: Avyaya (अव्यय)

• उपशृण्वताम्: while (they) were listening
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/शृण्वत्), Genitive, Plural; locative-absolute sense 'while they were listening' (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-absolute usage)
• Role: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• तान्राजा = तान् + राजा
• ब्राह्मणानिदम् = ब्राह्मणान् + इदम्
• इदमब्रवीत् = इदम् + अब्रवीत्
• तेषामेवोपशृण्वताम् = तेषाम् + एव + उपशृण्वताम्

Context

I am immensely happy that you have added to my incomparable resilience with your desire to see my beloved eldest son installed heirapparent.

The teaching

Public endorsement of a worthy successor brings stability and joy; yet attachment to outcomes can become the seed of later suffering when dharma turns adverse.

Ethical theme

राजधर्म/उत्तराधिकार-नीति (succession ethics)

For your practice

Contemplate Rāma as the ideal heir—humility with worthiness; also reflect on moderating attachment amid success.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shringara (love)

Mood

Exultant, proud, auspicious

Themes

• Dharma
• Rajadharma
• Satya
• Maryada
• Itihasa
• Kingship
• Succession

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• yauvarājya (office of prince-regent)

FAQs

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

Rajadharma: a king rejoices in establishing rightful succession for the stability of the realm, aligning personal joy with public duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to the proposal that Rāma be installed as yuvarāja, expressing intense satisfaction and renewed royal confidence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gratitude and duty-minded kingship: Daśaratha values the counsel of his court and frames the decision as both affectionate and principled.