Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 15

विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना

Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection

Devanagari script

यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमं भुवि।।।।स्थितमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि।

Transliteration

yadi te dharma-lābhaṃ ca yaśaś ca paramaṃ bhuvi |

sthitam icchasi rājendra rāmaṃ me dātum arhasi ||

Translation

O king of kings, if you desire the gain of dharma and the highest, enduring fame in this world, it is right that you entrust Rāma to me.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (निपात), 'if'

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharma-lābham: gain of righteousness
• dharma-lābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'dharma-sya lābhaḥ' (gain of dharma)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); form identical to nominative

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with yaśaḥ

• bhuvi: on earth / in the world
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvi/bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sthitam: lasting / established
• sthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying dharmalābham and yaśaḥ (as desired as 'established/lasting')

• icchasi: you desire
• icchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājendra: O king of kings
• rājendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'rājñām indraḥ' (Indra among kings)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to give'

• arhasi: you ought / are fit
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

Context

O Kakustha! if your counsellors and all other sages headed by Vasishta give their consent, then only you may relieve Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Choosing dharma yields lasting honor: a ruler’s reputation is ethically meaningful when it arises from supporting righteous causes (protecting yajña and sages).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra frames the king’s decision as a dharmic opportunity—sending Rāma will secure both righteousness and enduring renown.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s kingly duty (rāja-dharma): prioritizing protection of sacred order over private reluctance.