Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.2: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 2

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Spoken by King Daśaratha to VasisthaSetting: Ayodhyā palace (royal audience with Vasiṣṭha)

Devanagari script

अभिवाद्य वसिष्ठं च न्यायतः परिपूज्य च ।

अब्रवीत्प्रश्रितं वाक्यं प्रसवार्थं द्विजोत्तमम् ॥२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.2

Transliteration

abhivādya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca nyāyataḥ paripūjya ca |

abravīt praśritaṃ vākyaṃ prasavārthaṃ dvijottamam ||2||

Translation

বশিষ্ঠকে প্রণাম করে এবং বিধিমতে সেই শ্রেষ্ঠ দ্বিজকে যথোচিত পূজা করে, সন্তানের প্রাপ্তির উপায় জানতে রাজা বিনীতভাবে কথা বললেন।

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Word by Word

• abhivādya: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-vad (अभि + वद्) (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/Absolutive (ल्यप्): 'having saluted'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action)

• vasiṣṭham: Vasiṣṭha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (वसिष्ठ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of abhivādya/paripūjya)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय): 'and'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• nyāyataḥ: duly/according to rule
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nyāya (न्याय) (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्)
• Form: Avyaya, adverbial tasil-formation: 'properly/according to rule'
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• paripūjya: having honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-pūj (परि + पूज्) (धातु)
• Form: Gerund/Absolutive (ल्यप्): 'having honored/worshipped'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• abravīt: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू) (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person Singular, Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• praśritam: humble/respectful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśrita (प्रश्रित) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative Singular; qualifies vākyaṃ
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier of object)

• vākyam: words/speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (object of abravīt)

• prasavārtham: for begetting offspring
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prasava + artha (प्रसव + अर्थ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva: 'for the purpose of offspring'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• dvijottamam: the best brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + uttama (द्विज + उत्तम) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('best among brahmins'); Masculine Accusative Singular; apposition to vasiṣṭham
• Role: Karma (कर्म) (appositional object)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• vasiṣṭhaṃ + ca → vasiṣṭhaṅ ca
• abravīt + praśritam → abravītpraśritam

Context

After offering humble salutations and worshipping sage Vasishta in accordance with prescribed ordinance for begetting children, he obediently said:

The teaching

When a ruler faces a life-defining lack, humility before dharma and the teacher clarifies the right means; reverence and proper procedure precede effective action.

Duties in tension

• Rāja-dharma of ensuring succession and stability
• Personal grief/longing due to childlessness
• Adherence to śāstra-guided means rather than impulsive action

Ethical theme

Rāja-dharma and family duty (kuladharma)

How it resolves

Seeking guru-guided ritual remedy (śāstrīya-upāya)

Devotion and practice

Model of approaching the wise with humility; for householders, it affirms prayerful seeking of dharmic means for family welfare.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Supplicant, yearning, reverent

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Guru-śiṣya decorum
• Satya
• Royal duty

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

Approaching a spiritual authority with humility and proper procedure is dharma, especially when seeking a boon tied to lineage and royal responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha formally approaches Vasiṣṭha to request guidance for obtaining children, setting the stage for the sacrificial rite.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vinaya (humility) and maryādā (respectful conduct) in the king’s relationship with his guru-priest.