valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary

Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes

The source gives the formal etymology behind each prince's name: Rama from ramante sarve janaaH guNaiH asmin iti raamaH ('in whom all people delight for his virtues'), also traced to a verse in the Padma Purana establishing the name's antiquity; Bharata from bibharti iti bharataH ('one who bears/sustains'), specifically because he will bear the burden of Rama's kingdom during Rama's exile; Lakshmana from lakshmi asya astiiti lakshmaNaH ('one possessed of good fortune/dedication'), read as his lifelong dedicated service to Rama; and Shatrughna from shatruun hantaa iti shatrughnaH ('destroyer of enemies'). It also glosses purohita (Vashishtha's role in naming them) as puraa hitaH, 'one who looks after the future welfare' of the kingdom -- framing the naming ceremony as itself an act of foresight, not mere ritual formality.