Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 12

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तमुवाच महातेजा: प्रणम्याभिप्रसाद्य च।ब्रह्मर्षिं तपसा दीप्तं राजर्षिरमितप्रभ:।।।।पृष्ट्वा सर्वत्र कुशलमृचीकं तमिदं वच:।

Transliteration

tam uvāca mahātejāḥ praṇamyābhiprasādya ca | brahmarṣiṃ tapasā dīptaṃ rājarṣir amitaprabhaḥ || pṛṣṭvā sarvatra kuśalam ṛcīkaṃ tam idaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Then the exceedingly radiant royal sage, after bowing and duly pleasing that brahmarṣi Ṛcīka—who shone with the power of austerity—and after inquiring about the welfare of all, spoke these words to him.

Word by Word

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), बहुवचन; dependent genitive with śatasahasreṇa (‘of cows’)

• शतसहस्रेण: with a hundred thousand (as price)
• शतसहस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘a hundred-thousand’) used as price/means

• विक्रीणीषे: you sell
• विक्रीणीषे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्री (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘you sell’

• सुतम्: (your) son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of vikrīṇīṣe

• यदि: if
• यदि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional ‘if’)

• पशोः: of an animal
• पशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive with arthe (‘for the sake of an animal’)

• अर्थे: for the sake of
• अर्थे: Prayojana-adhikaraṇa (प्रयोजन-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; purpose/for the sake of (locative of purpose)

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; address

• कृतकृत्यः: one whose task is accomplished
• कृतकृत्यः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘asmi’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भार्गव: O Bhārgava
• भार्गव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; descendant of Bhṛgu

Context

The most brilliant king(Ambarisha) bowing to sage Richika, a brahmarshi who looked extremely resplendent with penance, propitiated him, enquired about the welfare of all and finally said":

Characters & Entities

• King Ambarīṣa
• Ṛcīka
• brahmarṣi
• tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires humility and proper approach: even a king must bow, speak respectfully, and first ask after welfare before presenting his request.

What is the narrative situation?

King Ambarīṣa meets Ṛcīka, honors him, and begins a petition after courteous enquiry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence (vinaya) and civility—royal power is restrained by respect for spiritual authority.