Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.10: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 10

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणावसथाश्चैव कर्तव्याश्शतशश्शुभा:।भक्ष्यान्नपानैर्बहुभिस्समुपेतास्सुनिष्ठिता:।।1.13.10।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.10

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāvasathāś caiva kartavyāḥ śataśaḥ śubhāḥ | bhakṣyānnapānaiḥ bahubhiḥ samupetāḥ suniṣṭhitāḥ ||

Translation

Il fallait préparer par centaines des demeures de bon augure pour les brahmanes, bien ordonnées et pleinement pourvues d’abondants mets et boissons.

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Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘likewise’

• पौरजनस्य: of the townspeople
• पौरजनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरजन (प्रातिपदिक) = पौर + जन
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of the townspeople/citizens’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/‘also’ particle)

• कर्तव्याः: should be made
• कर्तव्याः: Kriyā (क्रिया; obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त/gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘to be made’ (agreeing with ‘आवासाः’)

• बहु-विस्तराः: very spacious
• बहु-विस्तराः: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘very spacious/widely spread’ (qualifying ‘आवासाः’)

• आवासाः: dwellings; lodgings
• आवासाः: Karta (कर्ता; grammatical subject of obligation construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; subject of implied ‘(सन्तु)’ with gerundive predicate ‘कर्तव्याः’

• बहु-भक्ष्याः: well-supplied with food
• बहु-भक्ष्याः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having much food/many eatables’ (qualifying ‘आवासाः’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphatic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/assurance particle): ‘indeed’

• सर्व-कामैः: with all amenities
• सर्व-कामैः: Karana (करण; instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘with all (desired) amenities/pleasures’

• उपस्थिताः: provided; furnished
• उपस्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त; भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘provided/available’ (qualifying ‘आवासाः’)

Characters & Entities

• brahmins (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes hospitality and generosity: sacred rites are inseparable from caring for guests and supporting the learned with dignity and comfort.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes logistical arrangements for the sacrifice—large-scale housing and provisioning for brahmins.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Public-minded generosity and meticulous organization in service of a communal sacred event.