Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 11

राज्ञः शङ्का

प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Devanagari script

चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीति:परमिका मम।।।।ज्येष्ठं धर्मप्रधानं च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।

Transliteration

caturṇām ātmajānāṃ hi prītiḥ paramikā mama |

jyeṣṭhaṃ dharma-pradhānaṃ ca na rāmaṃ netum arhasi ||1.20.11||

Translation

En verdad, entre mis cuatro hijos, mi amor por Rāma es el mayor; y puesto que es el primogénito y el más eminente en el dharma, no es apropiado que te lleves a Rāma.

Word by Word

• caturṇām: of four
• caturṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka (numeral), Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana; ‘of four’

• ātmajānām: of (my) sons
• ātmajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle)

• prītiḥ: affection
• prītiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• paramikā: supreme, very great
• paramikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paramikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of prītiḥ

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Ekavacana

• jyeṣṭham: the eldest
• jyeṣṭham: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of rāmam (understood as eldest among sons)

• dharmapradhānam: one for whom righteousness is foremost
• dharmapradhānam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (‘having dharma as foremost’); viśeṣaṇa of rāmam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• netum: to take
• netum: Kriyā-artha (क्रियार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nī (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमन्त)

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

Context

My love for Rama among all my four sons is supreme.It is not proper for you to take Rama, the eldest son whose prime qualification is his virtue.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as a defining virtue of Rāma; simultaneously, Daśaratha appeals to maryādā—what is ‘proper’—in safeguarding the dharmic heir.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha strengthens his refusal by emphasizing Rāma’s status as eldest and foremost in virtue, and his own supreme affection for him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s dharma-centered character (dharma-pradhāna) is explicitly highlighted.