Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.4: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 4

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Spoken by King Daśaratha to ṚśyaśṛṅgaSetting: Ayodhyā palace/court

Devanagari script

भवान् स्निग्धस्सुहृन्मह्यं गुरुश्च परमो महान् ।

ओढव्यो भवता चैव भारो यज्ञस्य चोद्यतः ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.4

Transliteration

bhavān snigdhaḥ suhṛn mahyaṃ guruś ca paramo mahān |

oḍhavyo bhavatā caiva bhāro yajñasya codyataḥ ||4||

Translation

Tú eres para mí un afectuoso bienhechor, un amigo, y un guru supremo y venerabilísimo. Por ello, la carga de este yajña, ya puesto en marcha, debe ser llevada ciertamente por ti.

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Word by Word

• bhavān: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (भवत्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun of address, Masculine Nominative Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of implied 'asi' and of oḍhavyaḥ construction)

• snigdhaḥ: affectionate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (स्निग्ध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; predicate adjective of bhavān
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate qualifier)

• suhṛt: friend
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (सुहृद्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; predicate noun of bhavān
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate qualifier)

• mahyam: to me
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (चतुर्थी) Singular
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (beneficiary/recipient)

• guruḥ: teacher
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (गुरु) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; predicate noun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate qualifier)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• paramaḥ: supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (परम) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; intensifier/qualifier
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate qualifier)

• mahān: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahant (महत्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; predicate adjective
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate qualifier)

• oḍhavyaḥ: must be borne
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vah (वह्) (धातु) → oḍhavya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (तव्यत्): 'to be borne'; Masculine Nominative Singular; agrees with bhāraḥ
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया) (obligation predicate)

• bhavatā: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (भवत्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular
• Role: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृकरण) (doer in passive obligation)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• eva: alone/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (निपात): 'indeed/alone'
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (emphasis)

• bhāraḥ: burden
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (भार) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; subject of oḍhavyaḥ
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of passive-necessitative predicate)

• yajñasya: of the sacrifice
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (यज्ञ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive relation)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• udyataḥ: that has begun
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-yam (उद् + यम्) (धातु) → udyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: PPP (क्त) / adjectival: 'raised/undertaken/commenced'; Masculine Genitive Singular agreeing with yajñasya (yajñasya udyataḥ = 'of the commenced sacrifice')
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (genitive qualifier)

Sandhi Notes

• suhṛt + mahyam → suhṛnmahyaṃ
• guruḥ + ca → guruśca
• yajñasya + ca → yajñasya ca
• ca + udyataḥ → codyataḥ

Context

You are an affectionate friend and most reverential spiritual guide to me. The burden of performing the sacrifice which has since commenced shall be borne by you".

The teaching

Even sovereign power bows to spiritual authority; great works succeed when entrusted to the competent and the venerable.

Ethical theme

Guru-bhakti / rājadharma

Devotion and practice

Encourages guru-vandana and humility; supports sādhana of surrender to wise guidance in one’s undertakings.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Trustful, reverent, duty-bound

Themes

• Dharma
• Yajna-Dharma
• Guru-bhakti
• Responsibility
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is honoring rightful authority and competence: Daśaratha entrusts sacred duty to a qualified guru, showing that righteous action includes proper delegation and reverence toward spiritual leadership.

What is the narrative situation?

As the sacrifice has begun, Daśaratha formally requests Ṛśyaśṛṅga to take full charge of the yajña’s conduct and responsibilities.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s humility and guru-reverence (guru-sammāna), along with conscientiousness in ensuring the yajña is performed under proper guidance.