Shloka 4

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

वक्तव्यं च नरश्रेष्ठ श्रूयतां वचनं मम।भ्राता यवीयान् धर्मज्ञ एष राजा कुशध्वज:।।।।

Transliteration

vaktavyaṃ ca naraśreṣṭha śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama | bhrātā yavīyān dharmajña eṣa rājā kuśadhvajaḥ ||

Translation

হে নরশ্রেষ্ঠ, আমার বাক্য শ্রবণ করুন—এ কথা বলা উচিত: ইনি আমার কনিষ্ঠ ভ্রাতা, ধর্মজ্ঞ রাজা কুশধ্বজ।

Word by Word

• vaktavyam: is to be said
• vaktavyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) / predicate (elliptic 'asti')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaktavya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vac (धातु) + tavya)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana; gerundive 'to be said' (obligation/fitness)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya

• naraśreṣṭha: O best of men
• naraśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sambodhana Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; tatpuruṣa: 'narāṇāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ'

• śrūyatām: let it be heard
• śrūyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada; passive/impersonal sense: 'let it be heard'

• vacanam: statement/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म) of śrūyatām
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया) Ekavacana

• mama: my
• mama: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with vacanam
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī Ekavacana (genitive singular)

• bhrātā: brother
• bhrātā: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to eṣa rājā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• yavīyān: younger
• yavīyān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhrātā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yavīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; comparative 'younger'

• dharmajñaḥ: knower of righteousness
• dharmajñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of eṣa rājā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'dharmam jānāti' (knower of dharma)

• eṣa: this
• eṣa: Karta (कर्ता) (deictic subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• rājā: king
• rājā: Apposition (समानाधिकरण) to eṣa
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• kuśadhvajaḥ: Kushadhvaja
• kuśadhvajaḥ: Apposition (समानाधिकरण) to rājā
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśadhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; proper noun

Context

O Best of men! my words deserve to be heard. This younger brother king Kusadhwaja is knower of righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Daśaratha
• Kuśadhvaja

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as a defining qualification for kingship and alliance: Janaka introduces Kuśadhvaja specifically as dharmajña, implying that righteous discernment is the basis for trust and family bonds.

What is the narrative situation?

During the marriage negotiations in Mithilā, Janaka formally presents his younger brother Kuśadhvaja in the assembly before proceeding with proposals involving their family.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kuśadhvaja’s virtue of dharmajñatā—clear knowledge of righteousness and proper conduct expected of a ruler.