Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.10: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 10

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Setting: अयोध्या

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणावसथाश्चैव कर्तव्याश्शतशश्शुभाः ।

भक्ष्यान्नपानैर्बहुभिस्समुपेतास्सुनिष्ठिताः ॥१०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.10

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāvasathāś caiva kartavyāḥ śataśaḥ śubhāḥ |

bhakṣyānnapānaiḥ bahubhiḥ samupetāḥ suniṣṭhitāḥ ||10||

Translation

Es sollten zu Hunderten glückverheißende Wohnstätten für die Brahmanen bereitet werden, wohlgeordnet und reichlich versehen mit Speisen und Getränken.

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Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘likewise’
• Role: Prakāra (प्रकार)

• पौरजनस्य: of the townspeople
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरजन (प्रातिपदिक) = पौर + जन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of the townspeople/citizens’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive relation)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/‘also’ particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• कर्तव्याः: should be made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त/gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be made’ (agreeing with ‘आवासाः’)
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया; obligation predicate)

• बहु-विस्तराः: very spacious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘very spacious/widely spread’ (qualifying ‘आवासाः’)
• Role: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• आवासाः: dwellings; lodgings
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; subject of implied ‘(सन्तु)’ with gerundive predicate ‘कर्तव्याः’
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; grammatical subject of obligation construction)

• बहु-भक्ष्याः: well-supplied with food
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having much food/many eatables’ (qualifying ‘आवासाः’)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/assurance particle): ‘indeed’
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphatic)

• सर्व-कामैः: with all amenities
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘with all (desired) amenities/pleasures’
• Role: Karana (करण; instrument/means)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• उपस्थिताः: provided; furnished
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त; भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘provided/available’ (qualifying ‘आवासाः’)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)

Sandhi Notes

• पौरजनस्य + अपि → पौरजनस्यापि
• बहुविस्तराः = बहु + विस्तराः
• बहुभक्ष्याः = बहु + भक्ष्याः
• सर्वकामैः + उपस्थिताः → सर्वकामैरुपस्थिताः (र्-सन्धि)

The teaching

Ethical theme

अतिथि-धर्म/दान

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

व्यवस्थित, मङ्गल, सत्कारपूर्ण

Themes

• Dharma
• Hospitality
• Yajña
• Social ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• brahmins (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes hospitality and generosity: sacred rites are inseparable from caring for guests and supporting the learned with dignity and comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes logistical arrangements for the sacrifice—large-scale housing and provisioning for brahmins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public-minded generosity and meticulous organization in service of a communal sacred event.