Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 1

बलातिबलोपदेशः

The Instruction of Bala and Atibala

Devanagari script

[Dasaratha sends Rama and Lakshmana with Viswamitra--Viswamitra confers knowledge of bala and atibala to Rama and Lakshmana.]

तथा वसिष्ठे ब्रुवति राजा दशरथस्सुतम 

प्रहृष्टवदनो राममाजुहाव सलक्ष्मणम्।।1.22.1।।

Transliteration

tathā vasiṣṭhe bruvati rājā daśarathaḥ sutam |

prahṛṣṭavadano rāmam ājuhāva salakṣmaṇam ||

Translation

When Vasiṣṭha had spoken thus, King Daśaratha, his face bright with resolve, summoned Rāma together with Lakṣmaṇa.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/in that manner')

• vasiṣṭhe: when Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• bruvati: while speaking
• bruvati: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू, धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with vasiṣṭhe

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to rājā

• sutam: (his) son
• sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• prahṛṣṭa-vadanaḥ: with a delighted face
• prahṛṣṭa-vadanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prahṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from pra-√hṛṣ) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि ('whose face is delighted'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to rājā

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ājuhāva: summoned/called
• ājuhāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√hū (हू, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• sa-lakṣmaṇam: together with Lakṣmaṇa
• sa-lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह-अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव ('together with Lakṣmaṇa'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् to rāmam

Context

Vasishta having said thus, king Dasaratha, with cheerful countenance summoned Rama and Lakshmana.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa

FAQs

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

Acting promptly on dharmic counsel—once duty is clarified, hesitation yields to responsible action.

What is the narrative situation?

After Vasiṣṭha’s guidance, Daśaratha accepts the course of action and calls Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to be sent with Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kingly decisiveness aligned with dharma: readiness to place public duty above personal attachment.