Shloka 16

Devanagari script

आसीद्धशरथो नाम राजा त्रिदशविक्रमः।।।।तस्याहमग्रजः पुत्रो रामो नाम जनैश्श्रुतः।

Transliteration

āsīd daśaratho nāma rājā tridaśavikramaḥ | tasyāham agrajaḥ putro rāmo nāma janaiḥ śrutaḥ ||

Translation

દશરથ નામે એક રાજા હતા, દેવો સમા પરાક્રમી. હું તેમનો જ્યેષ્ઠ પુત્ર છું—જનમાઝે ‘રામ’ નામે પ્રસિદ્ધ.

Word by Word

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; धात्वर्थः—"to be"

• daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः—"by name" (नामार्थे)

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• tridaśavikramaḥ: mighty like the gods
• tridaśavikramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tridaśa + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tridaśānām vikramaḥ)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• agrajaḥ: elder (born first)
• agrajaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः—"by name" (नामार्थे)

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• śrutaḥ: heard of; renowned
• śrutaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śru (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; अर्थः—"heard/renowned"

Context

Thus asked by the demoness Surpanakha, Rama, scorcher of foes began telling her everything due to his simplemindedness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Truthful self-disclosure without evasion: Rāma answers directly, grounding identity in lineage and public reputation.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma begins his reply to Śūrpaṇakhā by stating his father’s identity and his own position as the eldest son.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya with dignity—Rāma’s calm, factual speech even when approached by a dangerous stranger.