Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 15

जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम्

Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila

Devanagari script

वृद्धे पितरि स्वर्याते धर्मेण धुरमावहम्।भ्रातरं देवसङ्काशं स्नेहात्पश्यन् कुशध्वजम्।।।।

Transliteration

vṛddhe pitari svaryāte dharmeṇa dhuram āvaham |

bhrātaraṃ devasaṅkāśaṃ snehāt paśyan kuśadhvajam ||

Translation

Lorsque mon père âgé s’en fut au ciel, je portai le fardeau du règne selon le dharma, et, par affection, je veillai sur mon frère Kuśadhvaja, éclatant tel un dieu.

Word by Word

• वृद्धे: when (he was) old
• वृद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्/locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'when (he was) aged'—सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute component)

• पितरि: when (my) father
• पितरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्/locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute component)

• स्वर्याते: having gone to heaven
• स्वर्याते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्/locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'gone to heaven'—locative absolute component

• धर्मेण: by righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karaṇa (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• धुरम्: the burden
• धुरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धुर्/धुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (धुरा-शब्दः; रूपम् धुरम्)

• आवहम्: I bore
• आवहम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भ्रातरम्: (my) brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• देवसङ्काशम्: godlike
• देवसङ्काशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (देव इव सङ्काशः), द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; भ्रातरम्-विशेषण

• स्नेहात्: out of affection
• स्नेहात्: Hetu (हेतुः/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• पश्यन्: looking after; watching
• पश्यन्: Karta (कर्ता/agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—शतृ (present active participle), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि

• कुशध्वजम्: Kuśadhvaja
• कुशध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः, द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; भ्रातरम् इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

Context

After my aged father attained heaven, I looked after my brother Kusadhwaja, who resembles the celestials, affectionately and ruled the kingdom with righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Kuśadhvaja
• Hrasvaromā

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as governance with righteousness combined with personal compassion: political duty (rule) and private duty (care of a dependent brother) are harmonized.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka describes his conduct after his father’s death—how he ruled and how he treated Kuśadhvaja.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness in duty (bearing the ‘dhura’) and affectionate guardianship.