Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 13

अयोध्यावर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha

Devanagari script

स्वकर्मनिरता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा विजितेन्द्रिया: ।दानाध्ययनशीलाश्च संयताश्च परिग्रहे ।।1.6.13।।

Transliteration

svakarmaniratā nityaṁ brāhmaṇā vijitendriyāḥ |

dānādhyayanaśīlāś ca saṁyatāś ca parigrahe ||1.6.13||

Translation

كان البراهمة مواظبين على واجبهم (الدارما)، قد قهروا الحواس؛ ميّالين إلى الصدقة وتلاوة العلم، متحفظين في الأخذ والاقتناء.

Word by Word

• svakarmaniratāḥ: engaged in their own duties
• svakarmaniratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + karma + nirata (प्रातिपदिक; ni+√ram/√raṃ, क्त/निरत)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa ‘engaged in one’s own duties’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverbial accusative/क्रियाविशेषण)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• vijitendriyāḥ: having conquered the senses
• vijitendriyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijita (vi+√ji, क्त) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi (विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम्)

• dāna-adhyayana-śīlāḥ: habitually charitable and studious
• dāna-adhyayana-śīlāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāna + adhyayana + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; dvandva of dāna & adhyayana as qualifiers to śīla; ‘having the habit of charity and study’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• saṃyatāḥ: restrained
• saṃyatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyata (प्रातिपदिक; saṃ+√yam, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; kta (PPP)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• parigrahe: in/with regard to acceptance/possessions
• parigrahe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī Ekavacana; viṣaya-saptamī (locative of respect)

Context

The brahmins were always interested in the performance of their duties. They had control over their senses. They were charitable and studious. They were self-controlled while accepting charity and maintaining marital relations.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

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

Svadharma: each group fulfills its prescribed responsibilities; learning and charity are guided by restraint rather than greed.

What is the narrative situation?

A focused description of the brāhmaṇas of Ayodhyā as exemplars of discipline, learning, and ethical receiving.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indriya-jaya (sense-control) paired with learning and generosity.