Valmiki Ramayana 2.100.9 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 9

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

स कच्चिद्ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् धर्मनित्यो महाद्युतिः।इक्ष्वाकूणामुपाध्यायो यथावत्तात पूज्यते।।।।

Transliteration

sa kaccid brāhmaṇo vidvān dharmanityo mahādyutiḥ | ikṣvākūṇām upādhyāyo yathāvat tāta pūjyate ||

Translation

Hijo querido, ¿se honra debidamente a ese brahmán—sabio, siempre dedicado al dharma y resplandeciente—preceptor de los Ikṣvākus, como corresponde?

Word by Word

• सः: he/that one
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कच्चित्: I hope
• कच्चित्: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-निपात

• ब्राह्मणः: the brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: कर्ता (Kartā/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विद्वान्: learned
• विद्वान्: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'ब्राह्मणः' इति विशेषण

• धर्मनित्यः: ever devoted to dharma
• धर्मनित्यः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: धर्मे नित्यः (ever devoted to dharma)

• महाद्युतिः: of great splendor
• महाद्युतिः: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महती द्युतिः यस्य (greatly radiant)

• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: of the Ikṣvākus
• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उपाध्यायः: preceptor
• उपाध्यायः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथावत्: properly/as usual
• यथावत्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: properly/as usual)

• तात: dear
• तात: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• पूज्यते: is honored
• पूज्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/verb; passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is honored'

Context

O dear child! I trust, the family preceptor of the Ikshvakus, Vasistha, the brahmin (versed in the Vedas), who is learned, ever fixed in virtues and effulgent is being honoured as usual.

Characters & Entities

• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Upādhyāya (family preceptor)
• Vasiṣṭha (implied by traditional context)

FAQs

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

Dharma is safeguarded by honoring the teacher and learned elders; reverence toward the guru sustains right counsel and social order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma asks whether the dynasty’s spiritual-intellectual anchor (the preceptor) receives due respect in the kingdom.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for wisdom and disciplined maintenance of righteous institutions.