Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 4

पञ्चदशः सर्गः — देवकृत-प्रार्थना, रावणवधोपायः, विष्णोः मानुषावतारनियोजनम्

Sarga 15: The Devas’ Petition, the Means to Slay Ravana, and Vishnu’s Commission to Incarnate as Man

Devanagari script

ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वास्सिद्धाश्च परमर्षय: ।भागप्रतिग्रहार्थं वै समवेता यथाविधि।।1.15.4।।

Transliteration

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ |

bhāgapratigrahārthaṃ vai samavetā yathāvidhi ||1.15.4||

Translation

Then the gods—together with the Gandharvas, the Siddhas, and the great seers—assembled in due form, in order to receive their rightful shares of the sacrificial offerings.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana (plural)

• sa-gandharvāḥ: together with the Gandharvas
• sa-gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana; avyayībhāva: sa(स, ‘with’) + gandharvāḥ

• siddhāḥ: the Siddhas
• siddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• paramarṣayaḥ: the great sages
• paramarṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana; karmadhāraya: parama (supreme) + ṛṣi (sage)

• bhāga-pratigraha-artham: for receiving their share (of offerings)
• bhāga-pratigraha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga + pratigraha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; tatpuruṣa (purpose): bhāgasya pratigrahaḥ (receiving share) + artham (for the purpose)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• samavetāḥ: assembled
• samavetāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-i (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (क्त), past passive participle used adjectivally; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahu-vacana; ‘having assembled’

• yathā-vidhi: according to the prescribed rite
• yathā-vidhi: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + vidhi (अव्यय + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva, adverbial: yathā (according as) + vidhi (rule) → ‘according to rule’

Context

All the celestial deities etc., along with gandharvas according to tradition, gathered at the sacrifice to receive their share of offerings.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is expressed as fidelity to ritual order and rightful distribution—participants receive offerings according to established rule (vidhi), not by force or favoritism.

What is the narrative situation?

Divine beings gather at the sacrifice to receive their allotted portions, setting the stage for their collective deliberation about Rāvaṇa’s threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective discipline and respect for lawful procedure (yathāvidhi), reflecting restraint and order among the gods and sages.