Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 17

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

राजाऽभूदेष धर्मात्मा दीर्घकालमरिन्दम:।धर्मज्ञ: कृतविद्यश्च प्रजानां च हिते रत:।।।।

Transliteration

rājā ’bhūd eṣa dharmātmā dīrgha-kālam arindamaḥ | dharmajñaḥ kṛta-vidyaś ca prajānāṁ ca hite rataḥ ||

Translation

এই ধর্মাত্মা রাজা দীর্ঘকাল রাজত্ব করলেন, শত্রুদমনকারী। তিনি ধর্মজ্ঞ, বিদ্যায় সুপ্রশিক্ষিত এবং প্রজাদের কল্যাণে সদা নিবিষ্ট ছিলেন॥

Word by Word

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• abhūt: was/became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• dharmātmā: righteous-souled
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-ātman (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य सः)

• dīrghakālam: for a long time
• dīrghakālam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण: काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dīrgha-kāla (प्रातिपदिक; दीर्घ + काल)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, द्वितीया-एकवचन-रूपेण कालाधिकरणार्थे अव्ययवत् (for a long time)

• arindamaḥ: subduer of enemies
• arindamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ari-ndama (प्रातिपदिक; अरि + दम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अरिं दमयति इति)

• dharmajñaḥ: knower of dharma
• dharmajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• kṛtavidyaḥ: well-educated
• kṛtavidyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta-vidya (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + विद्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (कृता विद्या यस्य सः = well-educated)

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

• prajānām: of the subjects
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• hite: in welfare
• hite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• rataḥ: engaged/delighting
• rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ram (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'engaged/delighting'

Context

This righteous-minded sage, subduer of enemies, knower of dharma knowledgeable inall branches of learning, devoted to the welfare of his subjects ruled as a king for long.

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as rāja-dharma: the king’s legitimacy rests on righteousness, learning, protection from enemies, and active commitment to the people’s welfare.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatānanda begins Viśvāmitra’s biography by describing his earlier phase as a capable and dharmic ruler before his later ascetic transformation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s public-mindedness: governance oriented toward prajā-hita (the good of subjects), showing that power is meant for protection and welfare, not self-indulgence.