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

यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम्

Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja

Devanagari script

अहोऽस्मि परमप्रीतः प्रभावश्चातुलो मम।यन्मे ज्येष्ठं प्रियं पुत्रं यौवराज्यस्थमिच्छथ।।।।

Transliteration

aho ’smi paramaprītaḥ prabhāvaś cātulo mama | yan me jyeṣṭhaṃ priyaṃ putraṃ yauvarājyastham icchatha ||

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。

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• उपशृण्वताम्: while (they) were listening
• उपशृण्वताम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• 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)

Context

Arrange fine rice cooked with milk and curd sufficient for a hundred thousand brahmins to eat to their heart's content.

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.