Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 13

ऋष्यशृङ्गानयनम् — Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā

Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 11

Devanagari script

अनुमान्य वसिष्ठं च सूतवाक्यं निशम्य च।सान्त:पुरस्सहामात्य: प्रययौ यत्र स द्विज:।।1.11.13।।

Transliteration

anumānya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca sūtavākyaṃ niśamya ca | sāntaḥpuraḥ sahāmātyaḥ prayayau yatra sa dvijaḥ ||

Translation

Après avoir entendu les paroles du cocher et obtenu l’assentiment de Vasiṣṭha, le roi partit—accompagné de ses reines et de ses ministres—vers le lieu où demeurait ce brahmane.

Word by Word

• anumānya: having obtained consent
• anumānya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-man (मन् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having obtained consent/approved'

• vasiṣṭham: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭham: Karma (कर्म/Object of anumānya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sūta-vākyam: the charioteer's words
• sūta-vākyam: Karma (कर्म/Object of niśamya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sūtasya vākyam)

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-śam (शम् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having heard'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sa-antaḥpuraḥ: with the queens (inner apartments)
• sa-antaḥpuraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/अव्यय) + antaḥpura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (antaḥpureṇa saha)

• saha-amātyaḥ: with ministers
• saha-amātyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सह' इत्यव्ययेन सह (with ministers)

• prayayau: departed
• prayayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-yā (या धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dvijaḥ: brahmin
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Having heard the charioteer's words and having obtained the consent of Vasishta, he along with his queens and courtiers departed to the place where the brahmin (Rsyasringa) resided.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Vasiṣṭha
• Sumantra (sūta)
• ministers (amātya)
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga (as ‘dvija’ by context)

FAQs

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

Acting with legitimate authorization and wise counsel: dharma is upheld when decisions are aligned with spiritual authority (Vasiṣṭha) and prudent advice (Sumantra).

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, after hearing counsel and receiving Vasiṣṭha’s consent, begins the journey to meet Ṛśyaśṛṅga.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for elders and institutions—Daśaratha seeks Vasiṣṭha’s approval before undertaking a major religious-political action.