Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 6, Shloka 19

अयोध्यावर्णनम्

Description of Ayodhya under Daśaratha

Devanagari script

क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीद्वैश्या: क्षत्रमनुव्रता: ।शूद्रास्स्वधर्मनिरतास्त्रीन्वर्णानुपचारिण: ।।1.6.19।।

Transliteration

kṣatraṁ brahmamukhaṁ cāsīd vaiśyāḥ kṣatram anuvratāḥ |

śūdrāḥ svadharmaniratās trīn varṇān upacāriṇaḥ ||1.6.19||

Translation

L’ordre des kṣatriya était guidé par les brāhmaṇa ; les vaiśya suivaient les kṣatriya ; et les śūdra, appliqués à leur propre devoir, servaient les trois autres varṇa.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रम्: the kṣatriya order / royal power
• क्षत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here as predicate nominative/accusative-like neuter usage

• ब्रह्ममुखम्: with Brahmins as the foremost; Brahmin-led
• ब्रह्ममुखम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of क्षत्रम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘ब्रह्मणः मुखम्’ = having Brahmins as the foremost/at the head

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• वैश्याः: the vaiśyas (merchants)
• वैश्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (जातिवाचक), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• क्षत्रम्: the kṣatriya order
• क्षत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• अनुव्रताः: following; devoted to
• अनुव्रताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of वैश्याः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘following/obedient’

• शूद्राः: the śūdras
• शूद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (जातिवाचक), प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्वधर्मनिरताः: engaged in their own duties
• स्वधर्मनिरताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of शूद्राः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + धर्म + निरत (प्रातिपदिक; निरत as adjectival)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘स्वस्य धर्मे निरताः’ = engaged in their own duty

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of वर्णान्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (numeral)

• वर्णान्: castes/classes
• वर्णान्: Karma (कर्म) (object of implied ‘serve/attend’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• उपचारिणः: serving; attending upon
• उपचारिणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of शूद्राः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + चरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agent-noun/adjective ‘attending/serving’

Context

The kshatriyas were obedient to brahmins and vaisyas followed kshatriyas. Sudras assisted the three castes and all were fully occupied in their respective professions.

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhyā
• Brāhmaṇas
• Kṣatriyas

FAQs

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

Svadharma and social coordination: each group performs its role, and governance is aligned with ethical counsel, producing stability.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator summarizes the harmonious functioning of social groups in Ayodhyā, portraying an ordered society.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Role-ethics and disciplined cooperation—obedience to rightful guidance and commitment to one’s duties.