Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 44

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Transliteration

ādivaṃśaviśuddhānāṃ rājñāṃ paramadharmiṇām |

ikṣvākukulajātānāṃ vīrāṇāṃ satyavādinām ||

rāmalakṣmaṇayor arthe tvatsute varaye nṛpa |

sadṛśābhyāṃ nṛpaśreṣṭha sadṛśe dātum arhasi ||

Translation

Oh el mejor de los reyes, oh soberano: estos héroes del linaje de Ikṣvāku son puros de estirpe desde el principio, supremamente devotos del dharma y firmes en la verdad. Para Rāma y Lakṣmaṇa solicito en matrimonio a tus dos hijas; siendo ambos lados igualmente dignos, conviene que concedas las dos novias correspondientes.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ब्रुवाणम्: speaking
• ब्रुवाणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रुवाण (कृदन्त; √ब्रू)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जनकः: Janaka
• जनकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• कृताञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जलिः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (कृतः अञ्जलिः येन), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of जनकः

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are worthy
• अर्हसि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• भद्रम्: welfare/good fortune
• भद्रम्: Sambodhana-artha (आशीः/Benign wish)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); आशीर्वादार्थक प्रयोग

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुलम्: lineage/dynasty
• कुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); enclitic

• परिकीर्तितम्: recounted/told
• परिकीर्तितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘(to be) recounted’

Context

Great among men, O King! be gracious enough to give your equally accomplished two daughters in mariage to Rama and Lakshmana who are born in the family of Ikshvakus kings possessing the purity of race right from the beginning. They are highly virtuous, heroic, and truthful. They have chosen your daughters as their brides".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē saptatitamassarga:৷৷Thus ends the seventieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as righteous social order: marriage is to be arranged by worthiness, virtue, and truthfulness, ensuring a harmonious and ethical alliance.

What is the narrative situation?

A formal request is made to Janaka to give his two daughters in marriage to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, emphasizing equality of merit and noble conduct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truthfulness) and paramadharma (supreme righteousness) as defining virtues of the Ikṣvāku princes.