Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 3

बलातिबलोपदेशः

The Instruction of Bala and Atibala

Devanagari script

कृतस्वस्त्ययनं मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च।पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैरभिमन्त्रितम्।।1.22.2।।स पुत्रं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय राजा दशरथ: प्रियम्।ददौ कुशिकपुत्राय सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना।।1.22.3।।

Transliteration

kṛtasvastyayanaṃ mātrā pitrā daśarathena ca | purodhasā vasiṣṭhena maṅgalair abhimantritam || 1.22.2 ||

sa putraṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya rājā daśarathaḥ priyam | dadau kuśikaputrāya suprītenāntarātmanā || 1.22.3 ||

Translation

Après que sa mère et son père, le roi Daśaratha, eurent accompli les rites auspicious de bénédiction et d’adieu, et que le prêtre de famille Vasiṣṭha l’eut sanctifié par des mantras favorables, le roi Daśaratha baisa le sommet de la tête de son fils bien-aimé et, le cœur joyeux et consentant, le confia au fils de Kuśika, Viśvāmitra.

Word by Word

• kṛta-svastyayanam: (him) for whom the svastyayana rites were performed
• kṛta-svastyayanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृ-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + svastyayana (स्वस्त्ययन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृतं स्वस्त्ययनं यस्य तत्)

• mātrā: by the mother
• mātrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (मातृ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• daśarathena: by Daśaratha
• daśarathena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (दशरथ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च-अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• purodhasā: by the family priest
• purodhasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purodhā (पुरोधा/पुरोहित-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (वसिष्ठ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• maṅgalaiḥ: with auspicious (rites/benedictions)
• maṅgalaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (मङ्गल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• abhimantritam: consecrated/enchanted by mantras
• abhimantritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-mantr (अभि+मन्त्र्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with kṛtasvastyayanam

Context

Rama was given farewell by his parents with recitation of mantras (for securing prosperity and averting evils). Priest Vasishta sanctified him with mantras Dasaratha kissed his son on the forehead and delivered him to the care of Viswamitra, with a heart full of cheer.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikaputra)
• Svastyayana (benedictory rite)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma and satya: Daśaratha honors his commitment to the sage and subordinates personal attachment to righteous obligation, entrusting his son after proper sanctifying rites.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is ritually blessed and formally handed over by Daśaratha to Viśvāmitra for the forest-mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s dutiful integrity (truthfulness and responsibility) and the culture of respectful transition into discipleship under a guru.