Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 10

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

कुलं धन्यमिदं मन्ये येषां नो मुनिपुङ्गवौ ।सदृशं कुलसम्बन्धं यदाज्ञापयथ: स्वयम्।।।।

Transliteration

kulaṃ dhanyam idaṃ manye yeṣāṃ no munipuṅgavau | sadṛśaṃ kulasambandhaṃ yad ājñāpayathaḥ svayam ||

Translation

«Je tiens cette lignée pour bénie, puisque vous, deux sages éminents, avez vous-mêmes ordonné une alliance digne entre nos deux maisons royales.»

Word by Word

• kulam: lineage
• kulam: Karma (कर्म) of manye
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• dhanyam: blessed
• dhanyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with kulam

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulam
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with kulam

• manye: I consider
• manye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana; relative pronoun 'of whom'

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with kulasambandham
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana (genitive plural) enclitic; 'of us/our'

• munipuṅgavau: the two foremost sages
• munipuṅgavau: Karta (कर्ता) of ājñāpayathaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Dvivacana; 'two best of sages'

• sadṛśam: befitting
• sadṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulasambandham
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with kulasambandham

• kulasambandham: family alliance
• kulasambandham: Karma (कर्म) of ājñāpayathaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula + sambandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'kulayoḥ sambandhaḥ' (alliance of families)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म) of ājñāpayathaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to kulasambandham

• ājñāpayathaḥ: you two command
• ājñāpayathaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √jñā (ज्ञा) (धातु) (causative stem ājñāpay-)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष) Dvivacana, Parasmaipada; causative 'you two command/ordain'

• svayam: yourselves
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Svārtha-avyaya (स्वार्थ) adverb 'oneself'

Context

"Since both of you, eminent ascetics, recomended this befitting alliance of the two races on your own, I regard my race as blessed.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as accepting marriage as a sacred social bond guided by worthy authorities (ṛṣis), ensuring the alliance is ‘sadṛśa’—ethically and socially appropriate.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka responds positively to the sages’ recommendation for a marital alliance, treating their directive as auspicious for his dynasty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and reverence toward spiritual elders—Janaka values the sages’ judgment over personal pride.