Shloka 22

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

गवां शतसहस्राणि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नराधिप:।एकैकशो ददौ राजा पुत्रानुद्दिश्य धर्मत:।।।।

Transliteration

gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi brāhmaṇebhyo narādhipaḥ | ekaikaśo dadau rājā putrān uddiśya dharmataḥ ||

Translation

নরাধিপ রাজা ধর্মানুসারে পুত্রদের উদ্দেশ্যে ব্রাহ্মণদের একে একে এক লক্ষ গাভী দান করিলেন।

Word by Word

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śata-sahasrāṇi: hundred-thousands (i.e., hundreds of thousands)
• śata-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'śatānāṃ sahasrāṇi'

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to the brahmins
• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• narādhipaḥ: lord of men (king)
• narādhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'narāṇām adhipaḥ'

• eka-ekaśaḥ: one by one / to each individually
• eka-ekaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb); अव्ययीभाव: 'ekaṃ ekaṃ śaḥ' = distributively

• dadau: gave / bestowed
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा॒तु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• uddiśya: having specified / with reference to (their names)
• uddiśya: Kriyā-sahakārī (क्रियासहकारी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√diś (उद्+दिश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); meaning 'having designated/with reference to'

• dharmataḥ: according to righteousness / lawfully
• dharmataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb in -tas): 'according to dharma'

Context

Great among men and affectionate towards his children, (king Dasaratha), the delight of the Raghus donated in the name of his sons' donates to the brahmins four hundred thousand cows. They were capable of abundance of milk. Their horns were plaited with gold. They were accompanied by calves. With them were given away bell-metal vessels for keeping milk and innumerable valuables.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• brāhmaṇas
• Daśaratha’s sons (Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, Śatrughna implied)
• cows (go)

FAQs

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

Charity as duty: giving is performed dharmically—proper recipients (brāhmaṇas), proper intention (for sons’ welfare), and proper method (orderly dedication).

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha conducts formal go-dāna as part of auspicious rites connected with his sons and the forthcoming marriages.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity guided by righteousness: Daśaratha is shown as a giver who aligns wealth with sacred responsibility.