Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 12

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Devanagari script

औपकार्यां स गत्वा तु रघूणां कुलवर्धनम्।।1.70.12।।ददर्श शिरसा चैनमभिवाद्येदमब्रवीत्।

Transliteration

aupakāryāṃ sa gatvā tu raghūṇāṃ kulavardhanam || 1.70.12 || dadarśa śirasā cainam abhivādya idam abravīt |

Translation

فلما بلغ الجناح، رأى دَشَرَثَةَ، مُنمّي سلالةِ رَغهو؛ فانحنى برأسه تحيةً وقال هذه الكلمات.

Word by Word

• aupakāryām: to the tent/pavilion
• aupakāryām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aupakāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √gam (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/gerund), avyaya; prior action

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• raghūṇām: of the Raghus
• raghūṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kulavardhanam: the increaser of the lineage
• kulavardhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: kulasya vardhanaḥ), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhivādya: having saluted
• abhivādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi-√vad (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यबन्त/gerund), avyaya

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

Context

Having reached the tent, he (Sudamana) saw Dasaratha, perpetuator of the race of theRaghus and bowing down his head, said:

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmāna
• Daśaratha
• Raghu dynasty

FAQs

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

Maryādā (propriety) is dharmic: an envoy approaches a king with humility and formal respect.

What is the narrative situation?

Sudāmāna reaches Daśaratha’s lodging and prepares to deliver Janaka’s message.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectfulness and correct diplomatic conduct.