Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 4, Shloka 50

समुद्रतट-प्रयाणम् तथा वेलावन-निवेशः

March to the Seacoast and Encampment at the Shore

Devanagari script

त्रिशङ्कुर्विमलो भाति राजर्षिस्सपुरोहितः ।पितामहाः पुरोऽस्माकमिक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम् ।।।।

Transliteration

triśaṅkur vimalo bhāti rājarṣiḥ sapurohitaḥ | pitāmahāḥ puro 'smākam ikṣvākūṇāṃ mahātmanām ||

Translation

Triśaṅku, the royal sage—forefather of our great-souled Ikṣvāku line—shines forth clearly, together with his priest, as a favorable ancestral sign before us.

Word by Word

• त्रिशङ्कुः: Trishanku
• त्रिशङ्कुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विमलः: bright/clear
• विमलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भाति: shines
• भाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राजर्षिः: royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक; राजन् + ऋषि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: राजा चासौ ऋषिः (often karmadhāraya sense)

• सपुरोहितः: with (his) priest
• सपुरोहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सपुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक; स + पुरोहित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: पुरोहितेन सह/पुरोहितयुक्तः (with his priest)

• पितामहाः: forefathers/grandfathers
• पितामहाः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (predicative/appositional)

• पुरः: in front/earlier
• पुरः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/देशवाचक) 'in front/earlier'

• अस्माकम्: of us/our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; सम्बन्ध

• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: of the Ikshvakus
• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कुलवाचक

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; (qualifies इक्ष्वाकूणाम्)

Context

Among the great kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty, the grandfather Trisanku who is a royal sage shines clearly along with Vasishta the foremost priest.

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• purohita (priest; traditionally associated with Vasiṣṭha in Ikṣvāku lore)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tied to lineage-duty: the Ikṣvāku heritage symbolizes kingship devoted to righteousness, and ancestral ‘presence’ functions as moral validation for just action.

What is the narrative situation?

Portents are read as showing the bright ‘appearance’ of an Ikṣvāku forebear (Triśaṅku), encouraging Rāma by invoking dynastic tradition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fidelity to royal dharma: Rāma’s mission is framed as consistent with the ethical standards of his ancestors.