In Sanatana Dharma, two incarnations are honored with the title Purushottama. One is Maryada Purushottama Shri Ramachandra, and the other is Leela Purushottama Shri Krishna. Shri Ramachandra appeared in the Treta Yuga, while Shri Krishna appeared at the end of the Dvapara Yuga. There is hardly any aspect of human life—society, family, governance, or personal conduct—that is not reflected in their lives. Hence, they remain eternal ideals of human civilization.
Shri Ramachandra was always calm and gentle in speech. Even when addressed harshly, he never replied with harshness. A single act of kindness made him forever grateful, while he would forget even a hundred wrongs done to him.
Sa hi rūpopapannaś ca vīryavān anasūyakaḥ |
Bhūmāv anupamaḥ sūnur guṇair Daśarathopamaḥ ||
Shri Ramachandra was handsome, powerful, free from fault-finding, incomparable on earth, and a worthy son equal to Dasharatha in virtues.
Sa ca nityaṁ praśāntātmā mṛdupūrvaṁ ca bhāṣate |
Ucyamāno’pi paruṣaṁ nottaraṁ pratipadyate ||
He was always calm and gentle in speech; even when spoken to harshly, he never responded harshly.
Kadācid upakāreṇa kṛtenaikena tuṣyati |
Na smaraty apakārāṇāṁ śatam apy ātmavattayā ||
He remained satisfied forever by even a single act of kindness and forgot hundreds of wrongs.
Śīlavṛddhair jñānavṛddhair vayovṛddhaiś ca sajjanaiḥ |
Kathayannāsta vai nityaṁ astrayogyāntareṣv api ||
During breaks from martial training, he would converse with noble, wise, and elderly people to gain true knowledge.
Buddhimān madhurābhāṣī pūrvabhāṣī priyaṁvadaḥ |
Vīryavān na ca vīryeṇa mahatā svena vismitaḥ ||
He was intelligent, sweet-spoken, and greeted others first; though powerful, he was never proud.
Na cānṛtakatho vidvān vṛddhānāṁ pratipūjakaḥ |
Anuraktaḥ prajābhiś ca prajāś cāpy anurajyate ||
He never spoke untruth, respected elders, and was loved by his subjects, whom he also loved.
Sānukrośo jitakrodho brāhmaṇapratipūjakaḥ |
Dīnānukampī dharmajño nityaṁ pragrahavān śuciḥ ||
Shri Ram was compassionate, controlled anger, respected Brahmins, kind to the poor, and pure in conduct.
Kulocitamatiḥ kṣātraṁ svadharmaṁ bahu manyate |
Manyate parayā prītyā mahat svargaphalaṁ tataḥ ||
He honored his Kshatriya duty, believing it leads to great joy and heavenly rewards.
Nāśreyasi rato yaś ca na viruddhakathāruciḥ |
Uttarottarayuktīnām vaktā Vācaspater yathā ||
He never engaged in unrighteous acts and spoke with logical reasoning like Brihaspati.
Arogas taruṇo vāgmī vapuṣmān deśakālavit |
Loke puruṣasārajñaḥ sādhur eko vinirmitaḥ ||
Healthy, youthful, eloquent, and wise in time and place, he seemed the very essence of ideal human character.
Sa tu śreṣṭhair guṇair yuktaḥ prajānāṁ pārthivātmajaḥ |
Bahiś cara iva prāṇo babhūva guṇataḥ priyaḥ ||
Endowed with supreme qualities, he was as dear to the people as life itself.
Sarvavidyāvratasnāto yathāvat sāṅgavedavit |
Iṣvaste ca pituḥ śreṣṭho babhūva Bharatāgrajaḥ ||
He mastered all knowledge, the Vedas, and surpassed his father in archery.
Kalyāṇābhijanaḥ sādhur adīnaḥ satyavāg ṛjuḥ |
Vṛddhair abhivinītaś ca dvijair dharmārthadarśibhiḥ ||
He was noble, truthful, straightforward, and well-trained by learned Brahmins.
Dharmakāmārthatattvajñaḥ smṛtimān pratibhānavān |
Laukike samayācāre kṛtakalpo viśāradaḥ ||
Shri Ram was wise in Dharma, Artha, and Kama, intelligent, and skilled in worldly conduct.
Nivṛttaḥ saṁvṛtākāro guptamantraḥ sahāyavān |
Amoghakrodhaharṣaś ca tyāgasaṁyamakālavit ||
He maintained secrecy in governance, had loyal allies, and knew the right time for restraint and action.
Dṛḍhabhaktiḥ sthiraprajño nāsagrāhī durvacaḥ |
Nistandrīr apramattaś ca svadoṣaparadoṣavit ||
He was devoted, wise, free from harsh speech, vigilant, and aware of faults.
Śāstrajñaś ca kṛtajñaś ca puruṣāntarakovidaḥ |
Yaḥ pragrahānugrahayor yathānyāyaṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
Shri Ram was learned, grateful, and a just ruler in reward and punishment.
Satsaṁgrahānugrahaṇe sthānavin nigrahasya ca |
Āyakarmaṇy upāyajñaḥ sandṛṣṭavyayakarmavit ||
He knew how to honor the virtuous, restrain the wicked, and manage wealth wisely.
Śraiṣṭhāṁ cāstrasamūheṣu prāpto vyāmiśrakeṣu ca |
Arthadharmau ca saṁgṛhya sukhatantro na cālasaḥ ||
He excelled in weapons and arts, lived righteously, and was never lazy.
Vaihārikāṇāṁ śilpānāṁ vijñātārthavibhāgavit |
Ārohe vinaye caiva yukto vāraṇavājinām ||
Shri Ram was skilled in arts and in handling elephants and horses.
Dhanurvedavidāṁ śreṣṭho loke’tirathasammataḥ |
Abhiyātā prahartā ca senānayaviśāradaḥ ||
He was the greatest archer, a mighty warrior, and a skilled commander.
Apradhṛṣyaś ca saṁgrāme kruddhair api surāsuraiḥ |
Anasūyo jitakrodho na dṛpto na ca matsarī ||
Invincible in battle, yet free from pride, anger, and jealousy.
Nāvajñeyaś ca bhūtānāṁ kālavaśānugaḥ |
Evaṁ śreṣṭhair guṇair yuktaḥ prajānāṁ pārthivātmajaḥ ||
He was never to be disrespected and remained constant in nature.
Sammatas triṣu lokeṣu vasudhāyāḥ kṣamāguṇaiḥ |
Buddhyā Bṛhaspater tulyaḥ vīrye cāpi Śacīpateḥ ||
Beloved in all three worlds—equal to Earth in patience, Brihaspati in wisdom, and Indra in valor.
Tathā sarvaprajākāntaiḥ prītisaṁjananaiḥ pituḥ |
Guṇair viruruce Rāmo dīptaḥ sūrya ivāṁśubhiḥ ||
He shone like the radiant sun, pleasing both his people and his father.
Tam evaṁvṛttasaṁpannam apradhṛṣyaparākramam |
Lokanāthopamaṁ nātham akāmayata medinī ||
Such a noble and invincible ruler was desired by the Earth and all people as their lord.
