Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 14

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Devanagari script

मंत्रिश्रेष्ठवच श्शृत्वा राजा सर्षिगणस्तदा।।1.70.14।।सबंधुरगमत्तत्र जनको यत्र वर्तते।

Transliteration

mantri-śreṣṭha-vacaḥ śrutvā rājā sarṣi-gaṇas tadā || 1.70.14 || sa-bandhur agamat tatra janako yatra vartate |

Translation

Ayant entendu les paroles du plus éminent des ministres, le roi se rendit alors—accompagné de groupes de ṛṣis et de ses proches—là où Janaka se tenait en attente.

Word by Word

• mantriśreṣṭhavacaḥ: the words of the best minister
• mantriśreṣṭhavacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantriśreṣṭha + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: mantriśreṣṭhasya vacaḥ), Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/gerund), avyaya

• rājā: the king (Daśaratha)
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇaḥ: with hosts of sages
• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + ṛṣi + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सह-समास: 'with groups of sages'), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying rājā

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• sa-bandhuḥ: with relatives
• sa-bandhuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सह-समास: 'with relatives'), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying rājā

• agamat: went
• agamat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• janakaḥ: Janaka
• janakaḥ: Adhikaraṇa-relative clause subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय)

• vartate: is staying/was present
• vartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada

Context

King Dasaratha on hearing the words of the best of the counsellors reached the placewhere Janaka was waiting with hosts of rishis and relations.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Janaka
• ṛṣis
• kinsmen/relatives

FAQs

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

Dharma is communal and consultative: kings act in the presence of sages and elders, ensuring decisions align with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha accepts the invitation and proceeds to Janaka with sages and relatives.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for wise counsel and readiness to engage in dharmic proceedings.