Shloka 16

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

तेषां वरयतां कन्यां सर्वेषां पृथिवीक्षिताम्।वीर्यशुल्केति भगवन् न ददामि सुतामहम्।।1.66.16।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ varayatāṁ kanyāṁ sarveṣāṁ pṛthivīkṣitām |

vīryaśulketi bhagavan na dadāmi sutām aham ||1.66.16||

Translation

হে ভগবন! সকল পৃথিবীপতি রাজা সেই কন্যাকে প্রার্থনা করলেও, ‘বীর্য-শুল্ক’ শর্তের কারণে আমি আমার কন্যাকে দিতাম না।

Word by Word

• teṣām: of those
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• varayatām: of (those) seeking
• varayatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (वृ धातु, 'choose')
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; 'of those who were seeking (her)'

• kanyām: the maiden
• kanyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• pṛthivī-kṣitām: of the earth-ruling kings
• pṛthivī-kṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; समासः—पृथिव्याः क्षितः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) 'rulers of the earth'

• vīrya-śulke: with prowess as bride-price
• vīrya-śulke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; condition-locative

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-marker (उक्तिवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: quotative particle

• bhagavan: O venerable one
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: negation particle (निषेध)

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• sutām: daughter
• sutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

Context

O Pre-eminent among ascetics! thereafter many kings together came to Mithila to test their prowess.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Satya and dharma as fidelity to one’s declared standard: Janaka does not bend rules under pressure from powerful suitors.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite many proposals from monarchs, Janaka maintains the vow/condition that only a demonstrably capable hero may marry Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity—steadfastness to a principled commitment even before influential claimants.