Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 15

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Devanagari script

स राजा मन्त्रिसहित स्सोपाध्याय: सबान्धव:।।1.70.15।।वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठो वैदेहमिदमब्रवीत्।

Transliteration

sa rājā mantri-sahitaḥ sopādhyāyaḥ sa-bāndhavaḥ || 1.70.15 || vākyaṃ vākya-vidāṃ śreṣṭho vaideham idam abravīt |

Translation

Ce roi, accompagné de ses ministres, de ses précepteurs et de ses proches—le plus éminent parmi ceux qui maîtrisent la parole—s’adressa ainsi à Janaka de Videha.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• mantri-sahitaḥ: accompanied by ministers
• mantri-sahitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantrin + sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: mantribhiḥ sahitaḥ), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-upādhyāyaḥ: with preceptors
• sa-upādhyāyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + upādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सह-समास), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-bāndhavaḥ: with relatives
• sa-bāndhavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह) + bāndhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सह-समास), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vākyaṃ: words/speech
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vākyavidām: of the eloquent
• vākyavidām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākyavid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); 'of those who know speech'

• śreṣṭhaḥ: the best
• śreṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective of rājā

• vaideham: to Vaideha (Janaka)
• vaideham: Sampradāna/Addressed object (सम्प्रदान/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaideha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

Context

The king (Dasaratha), skilled in speech, accompanied by counsellors and kins said to Janaka,the lord of the Videhas:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Janaka (Vaideha)
• ministers
• upādhyāyas (preceptors)
• kinsmen

FAQs

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

Dharma includes satya and restraint in speech: a king’s words, offered in assembly with elders and teachers, must be measured and truthful.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha arrives and is about to speak formally to Janaka in the Mithilā courtly setting.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Eloquence joined to responsibility—speech as a dharmic instrument of governance and relationship.