Valmiki Ramayana 1.8.4: Bala Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 4

अष्टमः सर्गः

Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse-Sacrifice) for Progeny

Devanagari script

स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान्।मन्त्रिभिस्सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभि:।।1.8.3।। ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्।शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान्गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान्।।1.8.4।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.8.4

Transliteration

tato ’bravīd idaṃ rājā sumantraṃ mantrisattamam |

śīghram ānaya me sarvān gurūṃs tān sa-purohitān ||

Translation

Da sprach der König zu Sumantra, dem besten der Minister: „Bring mir schnell all jene verehrten Lehrer herbei, zusammen mit den königlichen Hauspriestern (purohita).“

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Word by Word

• सः: he (the king)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• निश्चिताम्: firm, decided
• निश्चिताम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चित (प्रातिपदिक; from नि-चि धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'मतिम्' इति विशेष्येण सह

• मतिम्: intention, resolve
• मतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of 'कृत्वा')
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• यष्टव्यम्: should be sacrificed / a sacrifice should be performed
• यष्टव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Potential passive participle/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• बुद्धिमान्: wise
• बुद्धिमान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मन्त्रिभिः: with ministers
• मन्त्रिभिः: सहकारक/सह (Sahakāraka; accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सह (Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous
• धर्मात्मा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (virtuous), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'कृतात्मभिः' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic/limiting particle)

• कृतात्मभिः: with the self-controlled (ones)
• कृतात्मभिः: सहकारक/सह (Accompaniment)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (self-controlled), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Context

Thereafter the king said to his dearest wives: "I intend to perform a sacrifice in order to obtain sons. Therefore, you, too, commence religious discipline."

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• gurus
• purohitas

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld by honoring qualified teachers and priests and by placing sacred rites under proper guidance rather than personal whim.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha issues a direct instruction to summon the religious authorities needed for the planned rite.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and humility before spiritual expertise, even for a sovereign.