Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 99

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

एतदाख्यानमायुष्यं पठन्रामायणं नर: ।सपुत्रपौत्रस्सगण: प्रेत्य स्वर्गे महीयते ।। ।।

Transliteration

etad ākhyānam āyuṣyaṃ paṭhan rāmāyaṇaṃ naraḥ |

saputra-pautraḥ sagaṇaḥ pretya svarge mahīyate ||

Translation

هذه الحكاية المقدّسة—الرامايانا—تمنح طول العمر لمن يقرؤها. وبعد الموت يُكرَّم في السماء مع أبنائه وأحفاده ومع أهل بيته وجماعته.

Word by Word

• paṭhan: (while) reading
• paṭhan: Kartā (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paṭh (धातु) → paṭhant (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अर्थे: 'reading'

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vāk-ṛṣabhatvam: excellence in speech
• vāk-ṛṣabhatvam: Karma (कर्म/object of īyāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabhatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vācām ṛṣabhatvam = 'excellence in speech')

• īyāt: may attain
• īyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• syāt: may be; if (he) is
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया; copular/conditional)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; शर्त/विकल्पार्थे ('if he be')

• kṣatriyaḥ: a kṣatriya
• kṣatriyaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• bhūmi-patitvam: lordship over land
• bhūmi-patitvam: Karma (कर्म/object of īyāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + patitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhūmeḥ patitvam)

• īyāt: may attain
• īyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• vaṇig-janaḥ: a merchant (vaiśya)
• vaṇig-janaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṇij (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (vaṇijāṃ janaḥ = 'a merchant person')

• paṇya-phalatvam: fruitfulness/profit in trade
• paṇya-phalatvam: Karma (कर्म/object of īyāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + phalatva (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (paṇyasya phalatvam)

• īyāt: may attain
• īyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• janaḥ: a person
• janaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• śūdraḥ: a śūdra
• śūdraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'even/also')

• mahatvam: greatness
• mahatvam: Karma (कर्म/object of īyāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + tva (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तद्धित/भाववाचक (abstract noun: greatness)

• īyāt: may attain
• īyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

This story of Ramayana enhances longevity of those who read it and recite it. They will be worshipped in heavens after their death along with their sons and grandsons, servants and relations.

Characters & Entities

• Rāmāyaṇa
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through śravaṇa and pāṭha—reverent study of an itihāsa that teaches truth and righteous conduct; the verse frames such engagement as spiritually meritorious.

What is the narrative situation?

This is a phalaśruti-style statement in the opening section, declaring the spiritual and worldly fruits of reading/reciting the Rāmāyaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Devotion to truth-bearing literature (satya-itihāsa) and disciplined religious study—valuing learning that shapes conduct.