Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 17

विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना

Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection

Devanagari script

अभिप्रेतमसंसक्तमात्मजं दातुमर्हसि।।।।दशरात्रं हि यज्ञस्य रामं राजीवलोचनम्।

Transliteration

abhipretam asaṃsaktam ātmajaṃ dātum arhasi |

daśa-rātraṃ hi yajñasya rāmaṃ rājīva-locanam ||

Translation

Tu dois confier ton fils bien-aimé, Rāma aux yeux de lotus, sans attachement possessif ; car le yajña le requiert pour dix nuits.

Word by Word

• abhipretam: dear / desired
• abhipretam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhipreta (कृदन्त; √i प्रापणे धातु with abhi-; PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies ātmajam

• asaṃsaktam: unattached / not clinging
• asaṃsaktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asaṃsakta (कृदन्त; √sañj/√saj धातु with a-; PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) with privative a-, Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies ātmajam

• ātmajam: son
• ātmajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• arhasi: you ought
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• daśa-rātram: for ten nights (ten-day period)
• daśa-rātram: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; द्विगु-समास: 'daśa rātrāṇi' (ten nights) used as a time-span

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• yajñasya: of the sacrifice
• yajñasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to ātmajam

• rājīva-locanam: lotus-eyed
• rājīva-locanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājīva (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: 'rājīvam iva locane yasya' (lotus-like eyes) used as epithet of Rāma

Context

O (Dasaratha), descendant of Raghu! act in such a manner that the time for my sacrifice is not delayed. Do not indulge in grief. Prosperity to you!"

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

Non-attachment in duty: even what is most beloved may be offered in service of dharma (protection of yajña and the ascetic community).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra specifies the limited duration—ten nights—during which Rāma is needed to safeguard the ritual.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s expected vairāgya-like restraint in action: fulfilling duty without possessiveness.