Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 23

ऋष्यशृङ्गानयनम् — Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā

Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 11

Devanagari script

ततस्सुहृदमापृच्छ्य प्रस्थितो रघुनन्दन:।पौरेभ्य: प्रेषयामास दूतान्वै शीघ्रगामिन:।।1.11.23।।

Transliteration

tatas suhṛdam āpṛcchya prasthito raghunandanaḥ | paurebhyaḥ preṣayāmāsa dūtān vai śīghragāminaḥ ||1.11.23||

Translation

Ensuite, après avoir pris congé de son ami, la joie de la lignée de Raghu se mit en route et dépêcha vers les habitants de la cité des messagers rapides.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of sequence (क्रमवाचक)

• suhṛdam: friend
• suhṛdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• āpṛcchya: having taken leave
• āpṛcchya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), 'having taken leave/asked permission'; upasarga: ā- (आ)

• prasthitaḥ: set out
• prasthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• raghu-nandanaḥ: Raghunandana (descendant of Raghu)
• raghu-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'delighter/descendant of Raghu' (epithet)

• paurebhyaḥ: to the citizens
• paurebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी) Plural (बहुवचन)

• preṣayāmāsa: dispatched
• preṣayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) + Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; 'caused to be sent/dispatched'

• dūtān: messengers
• dūtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

• śīghra-gāminaḥ: swift-moving
• śīghra-gāminaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक) + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'swift-going' qualifying dūtān

Context

Then king Dasaratha, took leave of his friend and set out. He despatched swift-footed messengers to the citizens with the command.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (Raghunandana)
• Romapāda
• Citizens (paurāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsible governance: a king communicates promptly with citizens, preparing society for a major public-religious undertaking.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha departs after farewell and sends fast messengers ahead to inform/prepare the city’s people.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s administrative foresight and diligence—swift organization in service of a dharmic goal.