वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-17, verse-13

तेषां केतुरिव ज्येष्ठो रामो रतिकरः पितुः ।
बभूव भूयो भूतानां स्वयम्भूरिव संमतः ॥१३॥

13. teṣāṃ keturiva jyeṣṭho rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ ,
babhūva bhūyo bhūtānāṃ svayambhūriva saṃmataḥ.

13. teṣām ketuḥ iva jyeṣṭhaḥ rāmaḥ ratikaraḥ pituḥ
babhūva bhūyaḥ bhūtānām svayambhūḥ iva saṃmataḥ

13. teṣām jyeṣṭhaḥ rāmaḥ pituḥ ketuḥ iva ratikaraḥ
babhūva bhūyaḥ bhūtānām svayambhūḥ iva saṃmataḥ

13. Among them, the eldest Rama became like a banner [of distinction] for his father, bringing him great joy. He was also regarded with great esteem by all beings, much like Svayambhu (the Self-Existent).

Words meanings summery:

• तेषाम् (teṣām) - among the four brothers (of them, among them, their)

• केतुः (ketuḥ) - a symbol of distinction (banner, flag, emblem, sign)

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• ज्येष्ठः (jyeṣṭhaḥ) - the eldest (son) (the eldest, oldest)

• रामः (rāmaḥ) - Prince Rama, the son of Dasharatha (Rama)

• रतिकरः (ratikaraḥ) - causing pleasure, delighting

• पितुः (pituḥ) - of Dasharatha (of the father)

• बभूव (babhūva) - he became, he was

• भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - greatly, widely, moreover

• भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of all living beings (of beings, of creatures)

• स्वयम्भूः (svayambhūḥ) - The creator deity, Brahma (the self-existent, Brahma)

• इव (iva) - like, as, as if

• संमतः (saṁmataḥ) - respected, approved, esteemed

Words meanings and morphology

तेषाम् (teṣām) - among the four brothers (of them, among them, their)

(pronoun)

Genitive, masculine, plural of tad

tad - that, those

Masculine/neuter genitive plural.

Note: Indicates 'among them'.

केतुः (ketuḥ) - a symbol of distinction (banner, flag, emblem, sign)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ketu

ketu - banner, flag, ensign, distinguishing mark, chief

Root: cit (class 1)

Note: Predicate nominative for Rama.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

ज्येष्ठः (jyeṣṭhaḥ) - the eldest (son) (the eldest, oldest)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jyeṣṭha

jyeṣṭha - eldest, oldest, principal, most excellent

Superlative degree of 'vṛddha' (old).

Note: Qualifies Rāma.

रामः (rāmaḥ) - Prince Rama, the son of Dasharatha (Rama)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of rāma

rāma - Rama (a proper name, particularly the hero of the Rāmāyaṇa)

Note: Subject of the sentence.

रतिकरः (ratikaraḥ) - causing pleasure, delighting

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of ratikara

ratikara - causing pleasure, giving delight, charming

Compound of 'rati' (pleasure) and 'kara' (making).

Compound type : Tatpurusha (rati+kara)

• rati – pleasure, delight, love
  noun (feminine)
  Derived from the root 'ram' (to delight).
  Root: ram (class 1)
• kara – making, causing, performer
  adjective/noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root 'kṛ' (to do, make).
  Root: kṛ (class 8)

Note: Predicate nominative for Rama.

पितुः (pituḥ) - of Dasharatha (of the father)

(noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of pitṛ

pitṛ - father

Note: Connected to 'ratikaraḥ' (delighting for his father).

बभूव (babhūva) - he became, he was

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past perfect (liṭ) of bhū

Perfect

Third person singular Perfect, Parasmaipada.

Root: bhū (class 1)

भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - greatly, widely, moreover

(indeclinable)

Adverb.

Note: Intensifies 'saṃmataḥ'.

भूतानाम् (bhūtānām) - of all living beings (of beings, of creatures)

(noun)

Genitive, neuter, plural of bhūta

bhūta - being, creature, element, existing, past

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'bhū' (to be, become).

Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Governed by 'saṃmataḥ' (respected by).

स्वयम्भूः (svayambhūḥ) - The creator deity, Brahma (the self-existent, Brahma)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of svayambhū

svayambhū - self-existent, self-born (Svayambhu, an epithet of Brahma)

Compound of 'svayam' (self) and 'bhū' (being).

Compound type : Bahuvrihi (svayam+bhū)

• svayam – self, personally, spontaneously
  indeclinable
• bhū – being, existence
  noun (masculine)
  Derived from the root 'bhū' (to be).
  Root: bhū (class 1)

Note: Compared to Rama.

इव (iva) - like, as, as if

(indeclinable)

Particle of comparison.

संमतः (saṁmataḥ) - respected, approved, esteemed

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of saṃmata

saṁmata - approved, esteemed, respected, agreed upon

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'man' (to think, believe) with the prefix 'sam'.

Prefix: sam

Root: man (class 4)

Note: Predicate nominative for Rama.