Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 17

पायसप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Divine Payasa and the Avatara Resolution

Devanagari script

तत: परं तदा राजा प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलि:।भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किमहं करवाणि ते।।।।

Transliteration

tataḥ paraṃ tadā rājā pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ |

bhagavan svāgataṃ te 'stu kim ahaṃ karavāṇi te || 1.16.17 ||

Translation

तब राजा ने हाथ जोड़कर उत्तर दिया— “भगवन्, आपका स्वागत है। मैं आपके लिए क्या करूँ?”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-vācaka avyaya (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• param: after that
• param: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used adverbially (परम्) meaning 'afterwards/next'

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-vācaka avyaya (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kṛta-añjaliḥ: with folded hands
• kṛta-añjaliḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rājā (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः तत्पुरुषः (kṛtaḥ añjaliḥ yena) used adjectivally

• bhagavan: O revered one
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• svāgatam: welcome
• svāgatam: Pradhāna-vākya-bhāga (predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāgata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); used predicatively

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• astu: may it be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative/benedictive sense), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म) of karavāṇi
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsakaliṅga (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); interrogative used as object

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता) of karavāṇi
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• karavāṇi: shall I do
• karavāṇi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative in 1st person; polite offer), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• te: for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Context

With folded palms the king replied, "O revered lord!. Welcome to you. What can I dofor you?".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The dharma of respect and hospitality (satkāra) toward the worthy: Daśaratha greets the divine guest with humility and readiness to serve, modeling righteous kingship grounded in reverence.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to the emissary’s self-identification by offering welcome and service.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and courtesy in power: even as king, Daśaratha approaches the divine with folded hands and a service-oriented question.