Valmiki Ramayana 1.38.3 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 3

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Devanagari script

वैदर्भदुहिता राम केशिनी नाम नामत:।ज्येष्ठा सगरपत्नी सा धर्मिष्ठा सत्यवादिनी।।।।

Transliteration

vaidarbhaduhitā rāma keśinī nāma nāmataḥ | jyeṣṭhā sagarapatnī sā dharmiṣṭhā satyavādinī ||

Translation

O Rāma, die Tochter des Königs von Vidarbha, mit Namen Keśinī, war Sagaras ältere Königin; sie war dem Dharma ergeben und standhaft in der Wahrheit.

Word by Word

• वैदर्भदुहिता: daughter of the king of Vidarbha
• वैदर्भदुहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदर्भ + दुहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैदर्भस्य दुहिता)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन

• केशिनी: Keśinī
• केशिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक (proper name)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक (by name)

• नामतः: by name
• नामतः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपाधिवाचक (in name, by name)

• ज्येष्ठा: elder, eldest
• ज्येष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sā/keśinī)

• सगरपत्नी: wife of Sagara
• सगरपत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सगरस्य पत्नी)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• धर्मिष्ठा: very righteous
• धर्मिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सत्यवादिनी: truth-speaking
• सत्यवादिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + वादिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सत्यं वदति इति)

Context

O Rama! the daughter of the king of Vidarbha by name Kesini was Sagara's eldest wife who was righteous and truthful.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Keśinī
• Sagara

FAQs

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

The verse links noble lineage with inner nobility: true dharma is characterized by righteous conduct and commitment to satya (truthfulness).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra introduces Sagara’s first (elder) wife and describes her character qualities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya—truthful speech and integrity—together with dharma-mindedness as a hallmark of Keśinī.