Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 94

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधशतैरिष्ट्वा तथा बहुसुवर्णकै: ।।।।गवां कोट्ययुतं दत्वा ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयास्यति ।असंख्येयं धनं दत्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशा: ।।।।

Transliteration

aśvamedhaśatair iṣṭvā tathā bahusuvarṇakaiḥ |

gavāṃ koṭyayutaṃ datvā brahmalokaṃ prayāsyati |

asaṅkhyeyaṃ dhanaṃ datvā brāhmaṇebhyo mahāyaśāḥ ||

Translation

Le très illustre Rāma, après avoir accompli des centaines d’Aśvamedha et de nombreux sacrifices dispensateurs d’or, et après avoir offert d’innombrables troupeaux de vaches et des richesses sans mesure aux brāhmaṇas, s’en ira vers Brahmaloka.

Word by Word

• aśvamedha-śataiḥ: by hundreds of Aśvamedha sacrifices
• aśvamedha-śataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrumental means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvamedha (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (aśvamedhānāṃ śataiḥ)

• iṣṭvā: having performed (sacrifices)
• iṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु) → iṣṭvā (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having sacrificed/worshipped'

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (and; likewise)

• bahu-suvarṇakaiḥ: by many Suvarṇaka rites
• bahu-suvarṇakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + suvarṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (many + suvarṇaka-sacrifices)

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• koṭi-ayutam: a koṭi-ayuta (ten million)
• koṭi-ayutam: Karma (कर्म/object of datvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + ayuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (koṭyā ayutam = 'ten million')

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having given'

• brahma-lokam: Brahmaloka
• brahma-lokam: Karma (कर्म/goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ lokaḥ)

• prayāsyati: will go forth; will attain
• prayāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• asaṅkhyeyam: countless
• asaṅkhyeyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of dhanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-saṅkhyeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग (a- 'not')

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (कर्म/object of datvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to the brahmins
• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन

• mahā-yaśāḥ: the greatly renowned one
• mahā-yaśāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahac ca tat yaśaḥ)

Context

Highly renowned Rama, having satisfied the gods with the performance of a hundred of aswamedhas and many suvarnakas bestowing hundreds of thousands of cows and immense wealth on the brahmins, will return to Brahmaloka.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Aśvamedha
• brāhmaṇas
• cows
• Brahmaloka

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through yajña and dāna: righteous kingship includes honoring sacred rites and redistributing wealth through generous gifts, especially to learned custodians of tradition.

What is the narrative situation?

In his synopsis, Nārada describes Rāma’s later-life royal rites and generosity, culminating in his departure to Brahmaloka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dāna and devotion to dharmic institutions—Rāma’s generosity and ritual responsibility as a king.