Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 44

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

ऋत्विजस्त्वब्रुवन्सर्वे राजानं गतकल्मषम्।भवानेव महीं कृत्स्नामेको रक्षितुमर्हति।।।।

Transliteration

ṛtvijas tv abruvan sarve rājānaṃ gatakalmaṣam |

bhavān eva mahīṃ kṛtsnām eko rakṣitum arhati ||

Translation

Doch alle Priester sprachen zum König, nun von Schuld gereinigt: „Du allein bist würdig, diese ganze Erde zu beschützen.“

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• bhūmyā: with/through land (i.e., by possessing land)
• bhūmyā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• kāryam: business/need
• kāryam: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• asmākam: for us/of us
• asmākam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• śaktāḥ: able
• śaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-adjective of vayaṃ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (√śak, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण: ‘able’

• sma: (we) are/indeed (particle)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-प्रयोग (particle used with past sense/statement)

• pālane: in governing/protecting
• pālane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pālana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ratāḥ: devoted
• ratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-adjective of vayaṃ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (√ram, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त: ‘engaged/devoted’

• svādhyāya-karaṇe: in performing Vedic study
• svādhyāya-karaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: svādhyāyasya karaṇam

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kala (काल/Frequency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative): ‘always/constantly’

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• bhūmipa: O ruler of the earth
• bhūmipa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi + pa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: bhūmeḥ pāḥ

• niṣkrayam: a compensation/price in lieu
• niṣkrayam: Karma (कर्म/Object of prayacchatu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣkraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) (usage varies), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• kiñcit: something
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म/Apposition to niṣkrayam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); अनिश्चित-प्रमाणवाचक (indefinite)

• eva: just/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• iha: here/in this matter
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here/in this matter)

• prayacchatu: may (he)/please give
• prayacchatu: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yam (यम् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• bhavān: you
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

Context

But all the priests said to the king purged of his sins, "O Lord of men! you alone are capable of protecting this earth".

Characters & Entities

• Ṛtvij (priests)
• Daśaratha
• Earth (Mahī)

FAQs

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

Rājadharma: governance and protection of the realm are the king’s unique duty; even sacred specialists acknowledge that political stewardship belongs to the ruler.

What is the narrative situation?

The priests decline the literal acceptance of “the earth” as a gift and affirm that Daśaratha must remain its protector.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s fitness for kingship—moral purity after sacrifice and capacity for protection.