Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 54

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

तस्याशिषोऽथ विधिवद्ब्राह्मणैस्समुदीरिता:।उदारस्य नृवीरस्य धरण्यां प्रणतस्य च ।।।।

Transliteration

tasyāśiṣo ’tha vidhivad brāhmaṇaiḥ samudīritāḥ | udārasya nṛvīrasya dharaṇyāṃ praṇatasya ca ||

Translation

Alors, tandis que ce noble héros parmi les hommes demeurait prosterné sur la terre, les brāhmanes prononcèrent sur lui des bénédictions, selon la règle et le rite.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśiṣaḥ: blessings
• āśiṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of samudīritāḥ, in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) (Vedic/epic usage; stem āśis/āśīḥ) — ‘blessings’

• atha: then
• atha: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘then/thereupon’

• vidhivat: duly, as prescribed
• vidhivat: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘according to rule/procedure’

• brāhmaṇaiḥ: by the brahmins
• brāhmaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samudīritāḥ: were uttered
• samudīritāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ud + īr (ईर्/इर् धातु) / udīrita (PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with āśiṣaḥ — ‘were uttered’

• udārasya: of the generous
• udārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies nṛvīrasya/tasya

• nṛvīrasya: of the hero among men
• nṛvīrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ + vīra (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); ‘hero among men’

• dharaṇyām: on the earth (ground)
• dharaṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• praṇatasya: of (him) prostrated
• praṇatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇata (प्रातिपदिक; PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of (him) prostrated’

• ca: and
• ca: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय) ‘and’

Context

Brahmins uttered blessings upon the generous king when he prostrated before themaccording to procedure.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brāhmaṇas
• Dharaṇī (earth/ground, as locus of prostration)

FAQs

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

Reciprocity within dharma: humility and proper conduct invite rightful blessings; social-spiritual order is maintained through vidhivat (rule-based) action.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha prostrates himself; the brāhmaṇas respond by formally pronouncing blessings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent submission to dharma—Daśaratha’s prostration reflects disciplined respect rather than mere royal pride.