Shloka 12

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

धर्मज्ञस्सत्यसन्धश्च प्रजानां च हिते रतः ।यशस्वी ज्ञानसम्पन्नश्शुचिर्वश्यस्समाधिमान् ।।।।

Transliteration

dharmajñaḥ satyasandhaś ca prajānāṃ ca hite rataḥ |

yaśasvī jñānasampannaḥ śucir vaśyaḥ samādhimān ||1.1.12||

Translation

他通达正法，坚守真实之誓，常以众民之利益为念；名声远播，智慧具足，清净无染，善受正导，心志恒定而内敛。

Word by Word

• धर्म-ज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्म-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक); ज्ञ (from √ज्ञा) as nominal
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘धर्मं जानाति’

• सत्य-सन्धः: true to his vows
• सत्य-सन्धः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सत्ये सन्धः/निश्चयः यस्य’ (firm in truth/vows)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — coordinator
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive relation (‘of the subjects’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — coordinator
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हिते: in (their) welfare
• हिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) — locus (‘in welfare/for the good’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle from √धा with नि/हि- sense, lexicalized)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; ‘हिते’ = ‘हितकार्ये/कल्याणे’

• रतः: devoted/engaged
• रतः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त—past participle from √रम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), ‘रमते’ इत्यर्थे ‘आसक्तः’

• यशस्वी: renowned
• यशस्वी: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त

• ज्ञान-सम्पन्नः: endowed with knowledge
• ज्ञान-सम्पन्नः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √पद् with सम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘ज्ञानेन सम्पन्नः’

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वश्यः: amenable/obedient
• वश्यः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक; from √वश ‘to be controllable/amenable’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समाधिमान्: possessing concentration/meditative poise
• समाधिमान्: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाधिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Nārada
• Vālmīki

FAQs

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

True leadership is dharma-rooted and satya-bound: a ruler’s personal integrity and truthfulness must directly serve the people’s welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Nārada enumerates Rāma’s moral and intellectual excellences while answering who, in the world, embodies ideal conduct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-sandhatā (unbreakable commitment to truth) together with prajā-hita (public welfare) as the heart of Rāma’s kingship-ethic.