Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 10, Shloka 2

ऋश्यशृङ्ग-आनयनम्

Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Aṅga and His Marriage to Śāntā

Devanagari script

रोमपादमुवाचेदं सहामात्य: पुरोहित:।उपायो निरपायोऽयमस्माभिरभिचिन्तित:।। ।।

Transliteration

romapādam uvācedaṃ sahāmātyaḥ purohitaḥ |

upāyo nirapāyo ’yam asmābhir abhicintitaḥ ||

Translation

Le prêtre royal, avec les ministres, s’adressa à Romapāda : «Nous avons mûrement réfléchi à un moyen, sûr et sans péril».

Word by Word

• ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ: Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject; 'he')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• vana-caraḥ: dwelling in the forest
• vana-caraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (from √car, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): 'forest-dweller'; Masculine, Nominative Singular; qualifies 'ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ'

• tapas-svādhyayane: in austerity and Vedic study
• tapas-svādhyayane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (sphere/field of attachment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + svādhyayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) (itaretara): 'in austerity and Vedic study'; Neuter/Locative dual is expected classically, but epic usage often treats as Locative Singular of a compound; Locative (सप्तमी) Singular here by form

• rataḥ: devoted
• rataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ram (धातु) → rata (क्त/PPP)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate adjective: 'devoted/delighted'

• anabhijñaḥ: unacquainted
• anabhijñaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-abhijña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate adjective of 'sa'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject; resumptive 'he')
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative Singular

• nārīṇām: of women
• nārīṇām: Viṣaya (विषय) / Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (object-domain with 'anabhijñaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Plural

• viṣayāṇām: of sense-objects/pleasures
• viṣayāṇām: Viṣaya (विषय) / Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive Plural

• sukhasya: of pleasure/happiness
• sukhasya: Viṣaya (विषय) / Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive Singular

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

Context

The anxious courtesans received the offerings and afraid of the ascetic's return, made up their minds to withdraw immediately.

Characters & Entities

• Romapāda
• purohita (royal priest)
• amātya (ministers)

FAQs

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

It highlights rajadharma guided by counsel: a king should act through well-considered, non-harmful means rather than impulsive measures, aiming at welfare without needless risk.

What is the narrative situation?

Romapāda’s priest and ministers present a carefully devised strategy to address the kingdom’s crisis (the broader episode concerns bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to the realm).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and responsible governance—deliberation (mantra) before action.