Canto 2: Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa ()Chapter 1: Daśaratha Desires to Appoint Rāma as the Crown PrinceText 2.1.22
Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 1: Daśaratha Desires to Appoint Rāma as the Crown Prince
Text 2.1.22
धर्मकामार्थतत्त्वज्ञःस्मृतिमान्प्रतिभानवान्।
लौकिके समयाचारे कृतकल्पो विशारदः॥
dharma-kāmārtha-tattvajñaḥ smṛtimān pratibhānavān
laukike samayācāre kṛta-kalpo viśāradaḥ
dharma-artha-kāma-tattvajñaḥ = He was aware of the truth concerning the attainment of piety, prosperity and enjoyment; smṛtimān = He had a good memory; pratibhānavān = and was brilliant; laukike = in conventional; samaya-ācāre = social customs 6; kṛta-kalpaḥ = He was well-rooted; viśāradaḥ = and experienced.
He was aware of the truth concerning the attainment of piety, prosperity and enjoyment. He had a good memory and was brilliant. He was well-rooted in conventional social customs and experienced.
He was aware of when in the day one should focus on dharma, artha or kāma.1 He did not forget what He had come to know. Brilliance has been defined by authorities as “intelligence that reveals fresh insights”: prajñāṁ nava-navonmeṣa-śālinīṁ pratibhāṁ viduḥ. Lord Rāma exhibited such insight. He was also experienced in the sense that He was capable of observing the conventional social customs [of His day and time].
1. The early morning is recommended for attaining pious credits (dharma), the daytime is recommended for attaining economic prosperity (artha) and the evening is recommended for attending to the pleasures of the world (kāma). Of course, all three of these are meant to be pursued within the boundaries established by the scriptures, that is, they are meant to be regulated and restricted according to the scriptures.