वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-2, verse-31

धर्मात्मनो गुणवतो लोके रामस्य धीमतः ।
वृत्तं कथय धीरस्य यथा ते नारदाच्छ्रुतम् ॥३१॥

31. dharmātmano guṇavato loke rāmasya dhīmataḥ ,
vṛttaṃ kathaya dhīrasya yathā te nāradācchrutam.

31. dharma-ātmanaḥ guṇavataḥ loke rāmasya dhīmataḥ
vṛttam kathaya dhīrasya yathā te nāradāt śrutam

31. loke dharma-ātmanaḥ guṇavataḥ dhīmataḥ dhīrasya
rāmasya vṛttam yathā te nāradāt śrutam kathaya

31. Narrate the life story of Rāma—the one with a soul imbued with natural law (dharma), the virtuous, the intelligent, the steadfast hero in the world—exactly as you heard it from Nārada.

Words meanings summery:

• धर्म-आत्मनः (dharma-ātmanaḥ) - of Rāma, whose essence is natural law (dharma) (of the righteous one, of the one whose soul is (infused with) dharma)

• गुणवतः (guṇavataḥ) - of Rāma, the virtuous (of the virtuous, of the one possessing good qualities)

• लोके (loke) - in the world, among people

• रामस्य (rāmasya) - of the legendary hero Rāma (of Rāma)

• धीमतः (dhīmataḥ) - of Rāma, the intelligent (of the intelligent, of the wise)

• वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - life story, narrative of events (conduct, behavior, story, life, event)

• कथय (kathaya) - narrate, tell, relate

• धीरस्य (dhīrasya) - of Rāma, the steadfast (of the firm, of the steadfast, of the courageous, of the resolute)

• यथा (yathā) - exactly as (as, just as, according to)

• ते (te) - by you (Vālmīki) (by you, to you, your)

• नारदात् (nāradāt) - from the sage Nārada (from Nārada)

• श्रुतम् (śrutam) - heard (by you) (heard, listened)

Words meanings and morphology

धर्म-आत्मनः (dharma-ātmanaḥ) - of Rāma, whose essence is natural law (dharma) (of the righteous one, of the one whose soul is (infused with) dharma)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dharma-ātman

dharma-ātman - righteous, pious, whose soul is dharma, of a virtuous nature

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dharma+ātman)

• dharma – natural law, constitution, duty, righteousness, virtue, conduct
  noun (masculine)
  Root: dhṛ (class 1)
• ātman – self, soul, spirit, essence
  noun (masculine)
  Root: an (class 2)

Note: Qualifies Rāmasya.

गुणवतः (guṇavataḥ) - of Rāma, the virtuous (of the virtuous, of the one possessing good qualities)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of guṇavat

guṇavat - possessing good qualities, virtuous, endowed with excellences

Possessive suffix -vat

Note: Qualifies Rāmasya.

लोके (loke) - in the world, among people

(noun)

Locative, masculine, singular of loka

loka - world, realm, people, mankind

Root: luc (class 1)

रामस्य (rāmasya) - of the legendary hero Rāma (of Rāma)

(proper noun)

Genitive, masculine, singular of rāma

rāma - Rāma (the hero of Rāmāyaṇa), pleasing, charming

Root: ram (class 1)

Note: Refers to the main subject.

धीमतः (dhīmataḥ) - of Rāma, the intelligent (of the intelligent, of the wise)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dhīmat

dhīmat - intelligent, wise, sagacious, clever

Possessive suffix -mat

Note: Qualifies Rāmasya.

वृत्तम् (vṛttam) - life story, narrative of events (conduct, behavior, story, life, event)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vṛtta

vṛtta - conduct, story, event, that which has occurred, spherical

Past Passive Participle (substantivized)

Derived from √vṛt (to turn, to exist, to happen)

Root: vṛt (class 1)

Note: Object of 'kathaya'.

कथय (kathaya) - narrate, tell, relate

(verb)

2nd person , singular, active, imperative (loṭ) of kath

Imperative Mood

Causative form of √kath (derived from katha 'how'), 10th class equivalent, active voice, 2nd person singular

Root: kath (class 10)

Note: Addressed to Vālmīki.

धीरस्य (dhīrasya) - of Rāma, the steadfast (of the firm, of the steadfast, of the courageous, of the resolute)

(adjective)

Genitive, masculine, singular of dhīra

dhīra - firm, steady, resolute, courageous, wise, intelligent

Note: Qualifies Rāmasya.

यथा (yathā) - exactly as (as, just as, according to)

(indeclinable)

Note: Introduces the manner clause.

ते (te) - by you (Vālmīki) (by you, to you, your)

(pronoun)

Dative, singular of yuṣmad

yuṣmad - you

Note: Implies 'by you' when used with passive participle 'śrutam'.

नारदात् (nāradāt) - from the sage Nārada (from Nārada)

(proper noun)

Ablative, masculine, singular of nārada

nārada - Nārada (a divine sage, son of Brahmā)

Note: Indicates source.

श्रुतम् (śrutam) - heard (by you) (heard, listened)

(adjective)

Nominative, neuter, singular of śruta

śruta - heard, listened, revealed, renowned

Past Passive Participle

Derived from √śru (to hear)

Root: śru (class 5)

Note: Predicative, referring to the story.

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