Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 56

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

ततोऽब्रवीदृश्यशृङ्गं राजा दशरथस्तदा।कुलस्य वर्धनं त्वं तु कर्तुमर्हसि सुव्रत।।।।

Transliteration

tato ’bravīd ṛśyaśṛṅgaṃ rājā daśarathas tadā | kulasya vardhanaṃ tvaṃ tu kartum arhasi suvrata ||

Translation

Da sprach König Daśaratha zu Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: „O du von festen Gelübden, du bist wahrlich geeignet, das Gedeihen und Fortbestehen meines Geschlechts zu bewirken.“

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb ‘then’

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada — ‘said’

• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: to Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: Karma (कर्म) (addressee as object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); direct object of address (spoken to)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to rājā

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb ‘at that time’

• kulasya: of the lineage
• kulasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• vardhanam: increase/continuation
• vardhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता) (of arhasi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्-सर्वनाम)
• Form: Second-person pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed
• tu: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• kartum: to do
• kartum: Karma (कर्म) (complement of arhasi)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्) ‘to do’

• arhasi: are fit/should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada — ‘you are fit/ought’

• suvrata: O man of good vows
• suvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + vrata (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); address ‘O one of good vows’

Context

King Dasaratha then addressing Rsyasringa said "O Adherent of vows! you can help the continuity of my race".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛṣyaśṛṅga
• Kula (dynasty/lineage)

FAQs

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

Kula-dharma and responsibility: continuity of a righteous lineage is treated as a legitimate royal concern, to be pursued through lawful, vow-guided means.

What is the narrative situation?

After the sacrifice, Daśaratha directly addresses Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, seeking his aid/blessing for the continuation of the royal line.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for ascetic authority—Daśaratha acknowledges Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s vow-power and ritual competence.