Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 74, Shloka 8

परशुरामप्रादुर्भावः

The Appearance of Parasurama on the Return from Mithila

Devanagari script

राजाऽप्ययोध्याधिपतिस्सह पुत्रैर्महात्मभि:।ऋषीन् सर्वान् पुरस्कृत्य जगाम सबलानुग:।।।।

Transliteration

rājāpy ayodhyādhipatiḥ saha putrair mahātmabhiḥ | ṛṣīn sarvān puraskṛtya jagāma sa-balānugaḥ || 1.74.8 ||

Translation

King Daśaratha, lord of Ayodhyā, set out as well—accompanied by his noble sons—placing all the sages at the forefront, and proceeding with his army and attendants following behind.

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थे 'also'

• अयोध्याधिपतिः: lord of Ayodhyā
• अयोध्याधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition to राजा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lord of Ayodhyā')

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable), 'with' (governs instrumental)

• पुत्रैः: with (his) sons
• पुत्रैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/companions)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• महात्मभिः: with great-souled (sons)
• महात्मभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/qualifier of companions)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुत्रैः)

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object of puraskṛtya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ऋषीन्)

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in the forefront
• पुरस्कृत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुरस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund): 'having placed in front/having honored'

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सबलानुगः: followed by his army and retinue
• सबलानुगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बल + अनुग (प्रातिपदिक; अनुग = अनु+गम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिकीभूत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'one who has army as followers' (qualifying राजा)

Context

King Dasaratha of Ayodhya also left along with his great sons preceded by the sages and followed by the army.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ayodhyā
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Daśaratha’s sons (Rāma and his brothers, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as reverence for spiritual authority: the king honours the sages by giving them precedence, showing that political power is guided by wisdom and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

After the marriage events, Daśaratha departs with his sons; the procession is arranged with sages in front and the royal forces behind.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s humility and propriety (maryādā): he publicly acknowledges the superior moral status of the ṛṣis by placing them at the forefront.