Qualities of Sri Rama as told in Ramayana of Valmiki

Taken from www.valmikiramayan.net

1. स हि रूपोपपन्नश्च वीर्यवाननसूयकः |
भूमावनुपमः सूनुर्गणैर्धशरथोपमः || २-१-९

saH = Rama; ruupopapannaH cha = having beautiful form; viiryavaan = a hero of valor; anasuuyakaH = without envy; gunaiH = by virtues; dasarathopamaH = like Dasaratha; anupamaH = an incomparable; suunuhu hi = son indeed; bhuumau = on earth.

Rama was beautiful in form, a hero of valor and without envy. By virtues, he was like Dasaratha. In this way, he was an incomparable son on earth.

2. स च नित्यं प्रशान्तात्मा मृदुपूर्वं तु भाषते |
उच्यमानोऽपि परुषं नोत्तरं प्रतिपद्यते || २-१-१०

saH = that Rama; nityam = always; prashaantaatmaa = with a peaceful mind; bhaashhate = talked; mR^idupuurvakaM = softly; uttaram na prapadyate = he did not respond to; parushhaM = hard words; uchyamaanaha api = spoken by others.

That Rama was always peaceful in mind and spoke softly. He did not react to the hard words spoken by others.

3. कथंचिदुपकारेण कृतेनै केन तुष्यति |
न स्मरत्यपकाराणां शतमप्यात्मवत्तया || २-१-११

saH = That Rama; aatmavattayaa = because of his good bent of mind; tushhyati = feels glad; kathaMchit = even by ; aikena = one; upakaareNa = good thing; kR^itena = done; na smarati = (but) does not mind; satamapi = even a hundred; apakaaraaNaam = bad things.

That Rama, because of his good bent of mind, feels glad even by whatever way a good thing is done to him. He does not remember any number of bad things done to him.

4. शीलवृद्धै र्ज्ञानवृद्धैर्वयोवृद्धैश्च सज्जनैः |
कथयन्नास्त वैनित्य मस्त्रयोग्यान्तरेष्वपि || २-१-१२

astrayoga antareshhvapi = Even during intervals while practising archery; nityam = always; kathayannaasta = used to converse with; shiilavR^iddhai = elders by conduct; jJNaanavR^iddhai = elders by wisdom; vayovR^iddhai = elders by age (or); sajjanaiH = with good people.

Whenever he finds some time even while practising archery, Rama used to converse with elderly people, elder by way of conduct or wisdom or age or with good- natured people.

5. बुद्धिमान् मधुराभाषी पूर्वभाषी प्रियंवदः |
वीर्यवान्न च वीर्येण महता स्वेन विस्मितः || २-१-१३

 buddhimaan = wise man; madhurabhaashhii = sweet conversationalist; puurvabhaashhii = one who initiated a talk; priyaMvadaH = whose speech was compassionate; viiryavaan = person with valor; na cha vismitaH = not arrogant of; svena = his own; mahataa = great; viiryeNa = valor.

Rama was a wise man. He used to speak sweetly. He was the first man to initiate a talk. His speech was compassionate. He was valorous. But he was not arrogant of his mighty valor.

6. न चानृतकथो विद्वान् वृद्धानां प्रतिपूजकः |
अनुरक्तः प्रजाभिश्च प्रजाश्चाप्यनुरज्यते || २-१-१४

na cha = not; anR^itakathaH = speaking untruth; vidvaan = all knowing person; pratipuujakaH = Receptive and worshipful to; vR^idhaanaam = elders; anuraktaH = being loved; prajaabhi = by people; anurajyate = loving; prajaashchapi = also the people.

He did not speak untruth. He was all knowing. He used to be receptive and worshipful to the elders. People used to love him and he used to love the people.

7. सानुक्रोशो जितक्रोधो ब्राह्मणप्रतिपूजकः |
दीनानुकम्पी धर्मज्ज़्नो नित्यं प्रग्रहवान् शुचिः || २-१-१५

saanukroshaH = had compassion; jitakrodhaH = conquered anger; braahmana pratipuujakaH = receptive and worshipful to the wise; diinaanukampii = had mercy towards the meek; dharmajNaH = knew what was to be done; nityam pragrahavaan = Had always self control; suchiH = was clean (in conduct).

He had compassion. He conquered anger. He used to be receptive and worshipful to the wise. He had mercy towards the meek. He knew what was to be done. He had always self-control. He was clean (in conduct).

8. कुलोचितमतिः क्षात्रं धर्मं स्वं बहुमन्यते |
मन्यते परया कीर्त्य महत्स्वर्गफलं ततः || २-१-१६

 kulochitamatiH = attitude suitable for his social rank; bahumanyate = giving due respect to; kshaatraM dharmam = righteousness of warrior-class; manyate = thought; tataha = by following that righteousness; parayaa kiirtya = by great fame; mahat = great; swargaphalam = fruit of heaven.

That Rama, having an attitude suitable for his social rank, giving due respect to righteousness of warrior-class, believed that by following the righteousness he would attain great fame and through it the fruit of heaven.

9. नाश्रेयसि रतो विद्वान्न विरुद्धकथारुचिः |
उत्तरोत्तरयुक्तौ च वक्ता वाचस्पति र्यथा || २-१-१७

 na rataH = not interested(in); ashreyasi = actions not beneficial; vidvaan = scholar; Na viruddhakathaaruchiH = no taste in tales opposing righteousness; vaachaspatiryathaa = like brihaspathi; uttarottarayuktau = in showing series of strategies; vaktaa = a fluent speaker.

Rama was not interested in actions, which were not beneficial. He was a scholar. He had no taste in tales opposing righteousness. Like v�chaspathi, his eloquent speech contained a series of strategies for action.

10. अरोगस्तरुणो वाग्मी वपुष्मान् देशकालवित् |
लोके पुरुषसारज्ञस्साधुरेको विनिर्मितः || २-१-१८

arogaH = without disease; taruNaH = young man; vaagmii = speaker; vapushhmaan = person with a good body; deshakaalavit = knew time and place; purushhasaarajJNaH = could grasp the essence of men; ekaH = the one; saadhuH = gentleman; vinirmitaH = created; loke = on earth.

Rama was a young man without any disease. He was a good speaker. He had a good body. He knew both time and place. He could grasp the essence of men. He was the one gentleman born on earth.

11. स तु स्रेष्ठैर्गुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः |
बहिश्चर इव प्राणो बभूव गुणतः प्रियः || २-१-१९

prajaanaam = To people; priyaH = loving; saH = that; paarthivaatmajaH = prince; shreshhThaiH = with good; guNaiH = virtues; yuktaH = contained; babhuuva = existed; praanaH aiva = like spirit; bahishcharaH = moving outside; guNataH = by virtues.

People loved the virtuous prince Rama and treated him as their spirit moving outside.

12. सम्यग्विद्याव्रतस्नातो यथावत्साङ्गवेदवित् |
इष्वस्त्रे च पितुः श्रेष्ठो बभूव भरताग्रजः || २-१-२०

vidyaavratasnaataH = after bathing in the discipline of education; samyak = properly; saaN^gavedavit = After knowing archery; yathaavat = as prescribed; bharataagrajaH = elder brother of Bharatha (Rama); babhuuva = was; shreshhThaH = better than; pituH = father; ishhvastre = in archery.

After completing his education properly, Rama, after knowing the science of archery as prescribed, was better than his father in the use of bow and arrows.

13. कल्याणाभिजनः साधुरदीनः सत्यवागृजुः |
वृद्धैरभिविनीतश्च द्विजैर्धर्मार्थदर्शिभिः || २-१-२१

kalyaanaabhijanaH = having born in a good clan; saadhuH = gentleman; adiinaH = not a feeble man; satyavaak = speaker of truth; R^ijuH = straightforward man; abhiviniitaH = properly trained by; vR^iddhaiH = elderly; dvijaiH = wisemen; dharmartha darshibhiH = who realized righteousness.

Rama, having born in a good clan, was gentle minded. He was not feeble. He spoke truth. He was straightforward. He was properly trained by elderly wise men that knew righteousness.

14. धर्मकामार्थतत्त्वज्ञः स्मृतिमान् प्रतिभानवान् |
लौकिके समयाचारे कृतकल्पो विशारदः || २-१-२२

           

dharma kaamaartha tattvajnaH = one who knew the real form of desire; wealth and righteousness; smR^itimaan = one who had a good power of memory; pratibhaanavaan = one who had a spontaneous wisdom to respond; vishaaradaH = one who had skill; kR^itakalpaH = one who had created arrangement of; samayaachaare = customs useful at that time; laukike = for the society.

Rama knew the real form of desire, wealth and righteousness. He had a good memory power. He had a spontaneous wisdom. He had skills in arranging customs useful to society prevalent at that time.

15. निभृतः संवृताकारो गुप्तमन्त्रः सहायवान् |
अमोघक्रोधहर्षश्च त्यागसंयमकालवित् || २-१-२३

nibhR^itaH = Humble man; saMvR^itaakaaraH = Had an enclosed form; gupta mantraH = kept thoughts to himself; sahaayavaan = helped others; amogha krodha harshhashcha = his anger and pleasure not wasteful; tyaagasaMyama kaalavit = knew the timing of giving and non-giving.

Rama was humble. He did not let his feelings appear outwardly. He kept his thoughts to himself. He helped others. His anger and pleasure were not wasteful. He knew when to give and when not to give.

16. दृढभक्तिः स्थिरप्रज्ञो नासद्ग्राही न दुर्वचाः |
निस्तन्द्रिरप्रमत्तश्च स्वदोषपरदोषवित् || २-१-२४

dR^iDha bhaktiH = had a firm devotion; sthira prajJNaH = had steadfast mind; aasadgraahii = was not stubborn; na durvachaaH = not speaking evil words; nistandriH = had no idleness; apramattaH = was alert; svadoshhaparadoshhavit = and recognized his own errors and those of others.

Rama had a firm devotion and steadfast mind. He was not stubborn nor did he speak evil words. He was free from idleness and was ever alert. He recognized his own errors and those of others.

17. शास्त्रज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च पुरुषान्तरकोविदः |
यः प्रग्रहानुग्रहयोर्यथान्यायं विचक्षणः || २-१-२५

 

shaastrajJNaH cha = He knew sciences; kR^itajJNaH cha = knew their practice; purushhaantarakovidaH = understood differences among men; yathaanyaayam = as per justice; vichakshaNaH = discriminator of; pragrahaanugrahayoH = punishment and protection.

Rama knew the theory and practice of sciences. He understood the differences among men. He could judiciously discriminate whom to protect and whom to punish.

18. सत्संग्रहप्रग्रहणे स्थानविन्निग्रहस्य च |
आयकर्मण्युपायज्ञः संदृष्टव्ययकर्मवित् || २-१-२६

 

satsaMgrahapragrahaNe = identifying the good and protecting them; sthaanavit = knew the people; nigrahasya cha = to be reprimanded; upaayajJNaH = knew the ways and means of; aaya karmaNi = getting income; sandR^ishhTa vyaya karmavit = knew the system of spending as mentioned in sastra.

He identified good men and protected them. He knew the people worthy of reprimand. He knew the ways and means of getting income as well as the system of spending, as perceived by economic sciences.

19. श्रैष्ठ्यं शास्त्रसमूहेषु प्राप्तो व्यामिश्रकेषु च |
अर्थधर्मौ च संगृह्य सुखतन्त्रो न चालसः || २-१-२७

   

praaptaH = obtained; shraishhThyam = great skill; shaastrasamuuheshhu = in groups of sciences; vyaamishrakeshhu cha = and in their subsidiaries; sukhatantraH = Interested in enjoying comforts; saMgR^ihya = after understanding; artha dharmau = economic realities; na alasaH = and never remained inactive.

Rama could obtain great skill in the groups of sciences along with their subsidiaries. He was interested in enjoying comforts only after understanding the economic realities. He never remained inactive.

20. वैहारिकाणां शिल्पानां विज्ञातार्थविभागवित् |
आरोहे विनये चैव युक्तोवारणवाजिनाम् || २-१-२८

vijJNaataa = acquainted with; shilpaanaam = fine arts; vaihaarikaaNaam = useful in entertainment; arthavibhaagavit = knew how to distribute wealth; yuktaH = efficient in; aarohe = in riding; vinaye = in taming; vaaraNavaajinaam = elephants and horses.

Rama was acquainted with the fine arts useful for entertainment. He knew how to distribute the wealth. He was efficient in riding and taming of elephants and horses.

21. धनुर्वेदविदां स्रेष्ठो लोकेऽतिरथसंमतः |
अभियाता प्रहर्ता च सेनानयविशारदः || २-१-२९

shreshhThaH = best of persons; dhanur veda vidaam = knowing the science of archery; athirathasaMmataH = appreciated by the champions of archery; senaa nayavishaaradaH = Attained skills in moving the army properly; abhiyaataa = facing the enemies; prahartaa cha = (He) used to kill them.

Rama was the best of persons knowing the science of archery in the world; and was well appreciated by the champions of archery. He attained skills in marshalling the army. He faced and killed the enemies in battle.

22. अप्रधृष्यश्च संग्रामे क्रुद्धैरपि सुरासुरैः |
अनसूयो जितक्रोधो न दृप्तो न च मत्सरी |
न चावमन्ता भूतानां न च कालवशानुगः || २-१-३०

kruddhaiH = enraged; suraasurair api = even by suras and asuras; apradhR^ishhyaH = (He) could not be defeated; saMgraame = in battle; anasuuyaH = had no jealousy; jitakrodhaH = conquered anger; na dR^iptaH = Had no arrogance; na matsarii cha = Had no envy; na cha avamantaa = not humiliated; bhuutaanaam = living beings; na kaala vashaanugaH cha = had not surrendered to time.

Even enraged celestials and demons could not defeat Rama in battle. He had no jealousy. He conquered anger. He had no arrogance and envy. He had not humiliated any living being. He had not surrendered to time.

23. एवं श्रेष्ठगुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः |
संमतस्त्रिषु लोकेषुवसुधायाः क्षमागुणैः || २-१-३१
बुद्द्या बृहस्पतेस्तुल्यो वीर्येणापि शचीपतेः |

paarthivaatmajaH = That prince Rama; evam shreshhThagunaiH = with these good virtues; yuktaH = fair; prajaanaam = to the people; saMmataH = was agreeable; trishhu lokeshhu = to the three worlds; kshamaa guNaiH = virtue of forgiveness; vasudhaayaaH = (comparable) to the earth; budhyaa = By wisdom; bR^ihaspate = to brihaspathi; viiryeNa = by valour; shachiipate = to devendra; tulyaH = (He was) equal.

That Prince Rama, with these good virtues, was fair to the people. He was agreeable to the three worlds. By patience and the related virtues, he was equal to earth, by wisdom to Brihaspathi and by valor to Devendra.

24. तथा सर्वप्रजाकान्तैः प्रीतिसंजननैः पितुः || २-१-३२
गुणैर्विरुरुचे रामो दीप्तः सूर्य इवांशुभिः |

raamaH = Rama; guNaiH = by virtues; sarva prajaakaantaiH = which are enlightening to all the people; priitisamjananaiH = which are source of liking; pituH = to his father; viruruche = was shining; suurya eva = like the sun; diiptaH = shining; aMshubhiH = by the rays.

Rama, by his virtues, was a source of happiness to all the people and a spring of joy to his father. As the sun shines with his rays, Rama was shining, thus, with his virtues.

25. तमेवंव्रतसंपन्नमप्रधृष्यपराक्रमम् || २-१-३३
लोकपालोपमं नाथमकामयत मेदिनी |

 medinii = the Earth; akaamayata = wished; tam = Rama; naatham = (to be) the lord; evaM vrathasaMpannam = as he was adorned with disciplined life; apradhR^ishhya paraakramam = having undefeatable valor; lokapaalopamam = equal to the universal lords like Indra.

The earth wished Rama to be her Lord as he was adorned with self -control and norms of behavior bearing undefeatable valor equal to that of universal lords like Indra.