Shloka 23

ऋष्यशृङ्गानयनम् — Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā

Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 11

Devanagari script

ततस्सुहृदमापृच्छ्य प्रस्थितो रघुनन्दन:।पौरेभ्य: प्रेषयामास दूतान्वै शीघ्रगामिन:।।1.11.23।।

Transliteration

tatas suhṛdam āpṛcchya prasthito raghunandanaḥ | paurebhyaḥ preṣayāmāsa dūtān vai śīghragāminaḥ ||1.11.23||

Translation

ત્યારબાદ સુહૃદને વિદાય આપી રઘુવંશનો આનંદ—રઘુનંદન—પ્રસ્થાન થયો; અને નગરવાસીઓ માટે શીઘ્રગામી દૂતોને મોકલ્યા।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of sequence (क्रमवाचक)

• suhṛdam: friend
• suhṛdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• āpṛcchya: having taken leave
• āpṛcchya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), 'having taken leave/asked permission'; upasarga: ā- (आ)

• prasthitaḥ: set out
• prasthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन)

• raghu-nandanaḥ: Raghunandana (descendant of Raghu)
• raghu-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'delighter/descendant of Raghu' (epithet)

• paurebhyaḥ: to the citizens
• paurebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी) Plural (बहुवचन)

• preṣayāmāsa: dispatched
• preṣayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) + Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; 'caused to be sent/dispatched'

• dūtān: messengers
• dūtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निपात)

• śīghra-gāminaḥ: swift-moving
• śīghra-gāminaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक) + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Plural (बहुवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'swift-going' qualifying dūtān

Context

Then king Dasaratha, took leave of his friend and set out. He despatched swift-footed messengers to the citizens with the command.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (Raghunandana)
• Romapāda
• Citizens (paurāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma as responsible governance: a king communicates promptly with citizens, preparing society for a major public-religious undertaking.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha departs after farewell and sends fast messengers ahead to inform/prepare the city’s people.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s administrative foresight and diligence—swift organization in service of a dharmic goal.