Shloka 16

Devanagari script

विदितं ते महाराज इक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम्।।1.70.16।।वक्ता सर्वेषु कृत्येषु वसिष्ठो भगवानृषि:।

Transliteration

viditaṁ te mahārāja ikṣvākukula-daivatam |

vaktā sarveṣu kṛtyeṣu vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ || 1.70.16 ||

Translation

মহারাজ, আপনার নিকট সুপরিচিত যে ভগবান ঋষি বশিষ্ঠ ইক্ষ্বাকুকুলের দैবত-রক্ষক; এবং সকল কর্তব্যকর্মে তিনিই অনুমোদিত বক্তা।

Word by Word

• viditam: is known
• viditam: Kriyā-sāmānya/predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vid (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); impersonal predicate

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahārāja: O great king
• mahārāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya, Masculine, Vocative (संबोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• ikṣvākukuladaivatam: the tutelary deity of the Ikṣvāku line
• ikṣvākukuladaivatam: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku + kula + daivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ikṣvākukulasya daivatam), Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to vasiṣṭhaḥ

• vaktā: spokesman
• vaktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarveṣu: in all
• sarveṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying kṛtyeṣu

• kṛtyeṣu: in duties/rites
• kṛtyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Proper noun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavān: venerable
• bhagavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ṛṣiḥ/vasiṣṭhaḥ

• ṛṣiḥ: sage
• ṛṣiḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

"O Great king! venerable Vasishta is the spiritual protector of the Ikshvakus race and it is known that for all ceremonies he is our spokesman".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Janaka (Vaideha)
• Vasiṣṭha
• Ikṣvāku dynasty

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through recognized spiritual authority: royal action—especially ritual and public duty—should proceed under a legitimate, respected guide (here, Vasiṣṭha), ensuring correctness and integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

In the marriage negotiations at Janaka’s court, Daśaratha introduces Vasiṣṭha as the dynasty’s authoritative priestly voice, preparing for the formal recitation of the Ikṣvāku genealogy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s humility and adherence to propriety: he defers to the qualified sage rather than asserting royal prestige, modeling disciplined rajadharma.