Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 10

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Devanagari script

उपविष्टावुभौ तौ तु भ्रातरावतितेजसौ।।1.70.10।।प्रेषयामासतुर्वीरौ मन्त्रिश्रेष्ठं सुदामनम्।

Transliteration

upaviṣṭāv ubhau tau tu bhrātarāv atitejasau || 1.70.10 || preṣayāmāsatur vīrau mantri-śreṣṭhaṃ sudāmanam |

Translation

Sentados juntos, los dos hermanos heroicos, resplandecientes en gloria, enviaron a Sudāmāna, el más eminente de los ministros.

Word by Word

• upaviṣṭau: (the two) seated
• upaviṣṭau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√viś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); used adjectivally

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• bhrātarau: two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• atitejasau: of surpassing splendour
• atitejasau: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ati + tejas), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• preṣayāmāsatuḥ: they dispatched/sent
• preṣayāmāsatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√iṣ (धातु) [causative √iṣ→preṣayati]
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• mantriśreṣṭham: the best of ministers
• mantriśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: mantriṇām śreṣṭhaḥ), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sudāmanam: Sudāman
• sudāmanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Proper noun, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

The two heroic brothers endowed with great splendour seated beside each other, despatched Sudamana the wisest of ministers (to Dasaratha).

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmāna

FAQs

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

Dharma includes orderly state conduct: important matters are handled through qualified ministers and proper delegation.

What is the narrative situation?

A formal envoy is sent to initiate contact and summon Daśaratha for the next proceedings in Mithilā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative prudence—choosing the best counselor for a sensitive royal mission.