Valmiki Ramayana 1.73.35 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 35

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

जनकस्य वच श्शृत्वा पाणीन् पाणिभिरास्पृशन्।चत्वारस्ते चतसृ़णां वसिष्ठस्य मते स्थिता:।।।।

Transliteration

janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā pāṇīn pāṇibhir āspṛśan | catvāras te catasṝṇāṁ vasiṣṭhasya mate sthitāḥ ||

Translation

Als sie Janakas Worte vernahmen, berührten die vier Prinzen — dem Rat Vasiṣṭhas folgend — mit ihren Händen die Hände der vier Schwestern, zum Zeichen der Annahme.

Word by Word

• जनकस्य: of Janaka
• जनकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object of ‘श्रुत्वा’

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having heard’

• पाणीन्: hands
• पाणीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; object of ‘आस्पृशन्’

• पाणिभिः: with (their) hands
• पाणिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• आस्पृशन्: touched
• आस्पृशन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग ‘आ-’

• चत्वारः: the four (princes)
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; numeral used substantively

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• चतसृणाम्: of the four (sisters)
• चतसृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतसृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of the four (sisters)’

• वसिष्ठस्य: of Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मते: in the consent/opinion
• मते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in the opinion/consent’

• स्थिताः: remained/abided
• स्थिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate ‘having stood/abided’

Context

At the words of Janaka the four princes took the hands of the four sisters with their own with the consent of Vasishta .

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Vasiṣṭha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Bharata
• Śatrughna
• Sītā
• Urmilā
• Māṇḍavī
• Śrutakīrti

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as acting under legitimate guidance—rites are performed with the guru’s approval (Vasiṣṭha), emphasizing disciplined adherence to tradition and truth-bound procedure.

What is the narrative situation?

The formal acceptance (hand-touching/hand-taking) by the four princes of the four brides is completed under Vasiṣṭha’s sanction.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to wise counsel and ritual propriety—humility before the guru and commitment to dhārmic order.