Shloka 1

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

तत: प्रभाते विमले कृतकर्मा नराधिप:।विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं आजुहाव सराघवम्।।1.66.1।।

Transliteration

tataḥ prabhāte vimale kṛtakarmā narādhipaḥ |

viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānaṃ ājuhāva sa-rāghavam ||

Translation

પછી નિર્મળ, નિષ્કલંક પ્રભાતે નરાધિપ રાજા દૈનિક કર્મો પૂર્ણ કરીને, સરાઘવ મહાત્મા વિશ્વામિત્રને આમંત્રિત કર્યો.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then / thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla/krama-avyaya (temporal/sequential adverb)

• prabhāte: at dawn
• prabhāte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana

• vimalē: pure, clear
• vimalē: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; agrees with prabhāte: ‘in the pure (dawn)’

• kṛtakarmā: having performed (daily) rites
• kṛtakarmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: ‘one whose rites are done’; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies narādhipaḥ

• narādhipaḥ: the king
• narādhipaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी: narāṇām adhipaḥ); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• viśvāmitram: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• mahātmānam: great-souled
• mahātmānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘great-souled’; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies viśvāmitram

• ājuhāva: invited / summoned
• ājuhāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + hu (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathamapuruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• sa-rāghavam: together with the Rāghavas (Rāma & Lakṣmaṇa)
• sa-rāghavam: Sahakāraka (सह/सहकर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: ‘together with the Rāghavas’; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adverbial qualifier to the invitation (whom he invited along with)

Context

The day dawned bright and clear when the king (Janaka) performed his daily routine rites and welcomed the great Viswamitra with the two Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana).

Characters & Entities

• Janaka (implied by narādhipaḥ in Mithilā context)
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied by plural Rāghavas)

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined kingship: Janaka completes his obligatory rites first, then honors guests and sages—showing that public leadership rests on personal religious and ethical order.

What is the narrative situation?

At dawn, after his morning duties, Janaka invites Viśvāmitra along with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s conscientiousness (kṛtakarmā) and hospitality—proper conduct toward sages and honored guests.