Shloka 11

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

कच्चिद्विनयसम्पन्नः कुलपुत्रो बहुश्रुतः।अनसूयुरनुद्रष्टा सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः।।।।

Transliteration

kaccid vinayasampannaḥ kulaputro bahuśrutaḥ | anasūyur anudraṣṭā satkṛtas te purohitaḥ ||

Translation

„Ehrst du gebührend deinen Purohita, den Hauspriester—bescheiden im Wandel, hochgeboren, kundig in heiliger Überlieferung, frei von Neid und fähig, dich zu leiten?“

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: I hope
• कच्चित्: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-निपात

• विनयसम्पन्नः: endowed with humility
• विनयसम्पन्नः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: विनयेन सम्पन्नः / विनयस्य सम्पन्नः (endowed with humility)

• कुलपुत्रः: noble-born man
• कुलपुत्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कुलस्य पुत्रः (noble-born)

• बहुश्रुतः: well-versed
• बहुश्रुतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: बहु श्रुतं यस्य (well-versed)

• अनसूयुः: free from envy
• अनसूयुः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनसूयु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'पुरोहितः' इति विशेषण (free from envy)

• अनुद्रष्टा: guide/overseer
• अनुद्रष्टा: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तृच् (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'overseer/adviser'

• सत्कृतः: honored
• सत्कृतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सत् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि भाव: 'honored'

• ते: by you
• ते: करण (Karaṇa/instrument: agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया/षष्ठी-एकवचनरूप (enclitic); अत्र तृतीया (instrumental): 'by you'

• पुरोहितः: family priest
• पुरोहितः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

I trust, you continue to honour the family priest (Suyajna, son of Vasistha) who is endowed with modesty, born of high family, conversant in scriptures, free from envy and who can give you directions with regard to your duties.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Bharata
• Purohita (royal priest)

FAQs

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

Rājya-dharma depends on honoring wise and virtuous counsel; respecting the purohita symbolizes governance guided by learning, restraint, and moral oversight.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma checks whether Bharata continues proper royal practice in Ayodhyā—especially reverence toward the priestly adviser who safeguards dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s commitment to dharmic administration: he prioritizes ethical guidance and institutional propriety over personal concerns.