Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 9

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रवच श्शृत्वा वसिष्ठस्य मते तदा।जनक: प्रांजलिर्वाक्यमुवाच मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।।।

Transliteration

viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā vasiṣṭhasya mate tadā | janakaḥ prāñjalir vākyam uvāca munipuṅgavau ||

Translation

Ayant entendu les paroles de Viśvāmitra, conformes à l’avis de Vasiṣṭha, Janaka, les mains jointes en hommage, s’adressa aux deux sages éminents.

Word by Word

• viśvāmitravacaḥ: the words of Vishvamitra
• viśvāmitravacaḥ: Karma (कर्म) of śrutvā
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'viśvāmitrasya vacaḥ' (Viśvāmitra's words)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा-न्त, अव्ययकृदन्त)

• vasiṣṭhasya: of Vasistha
• vasiṣṭhasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with mate
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī Ekavacana

• mate: in the opinion
• mate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī Ekavacana; locative of circumstance: 'in/according to the opinion'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय) adverb

• janakaḥ: Janaka
• janakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) of uvāca
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) of uvāca
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; 'with folded hands'

• vākyam: speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म) of uvāca
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्) (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• munipuṅgavau: to the two foremost sages
• munipuṅgavau: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) / addressee (to whom he spoke)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Dvivacana; tatpuruṣa: 'munīnām puṅgavau' (two best of sages)

Context

Having heard the words of Viswamitra which echoed the wish of Vasishta, Janaka replied to the eminent ascetics with folded palms.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha
• Janaka

FAQs

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

Dharma includes reverence to wise counsel: Janaka’s folded hands signify humility and truth-oriented governance guided by sages.

What is the narrative situation?

After the sages propose the marriages, Janaka prepares to respond formally and respectfully to Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s humility and adherence to maryādā—proper decorum toward spiritual authorities.