Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.18: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 18

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Spoken by Vasistha to SumantraSetting: AyodhyāPlaces named: pṛthivī (the earth, i.e., all realms)Dispatch of invitations outward from Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

ततस्सुमन्त्रमानीय वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।

निमन्त्रयस्व नृपतीन्पृथिव्यां ये च धार्मिकाः ॥१८॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.13.18

Transliteration

tatas sumantram ānīya vasiṣṭho vākyam abravīt |

nimantrayasva nṛpatīn pṛthivyāṃ ye ca dhārmikāḥ ||18||

Translation

वशिष्ठ ने सुमंत्र को बुलाया। उनसे कहा, दुनिया के जो राजा धरम पे चलते हैं, सब को इन्वाइट करो।

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Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणान्: brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• क्षत्रियान्: kshatriyas
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• वैश्यान्: vaishyas
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• शूद्रान्: shudras
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• एव: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण
• Role: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)

• सहस्रशः: by thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (in thousands)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• समानयस्व: assemble/bring together
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• सत्कृत्य: after honouring
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sat + kṛ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having honoured'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• सर्वदेशेषु: in all countries
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-deśa (प्रातिपदिक: sarva + deśa)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचन
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• मानवान्: people
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

Sandhi Notes

• ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियान् = ब्राह्मणान् + क्षत्रियान्
• क्षत्रियान्वैश्यान् = क्षत्रियान् + वैश्यान्
• वैश्याञ्छूद्रान् = वैश्यान् + शूद्रान्
• शूद्रांश्चैव = शूद्रान् + च + एव

Context

Then Vasishta, having summoned Sumantra said to him "Invite all the righteous kings on earth".

The teaching

Public dharmic acts require inclusion of the righteous and proper protocol; invitations are part of yajña-dharma and rāja-dharma.

Ethical theme

Governance protocol (rāja-nīti)

For your practice

Choose dharmic company (satsaṅga) for sacred undertakings; community shapes the sanctity of action.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Directive, public-spirited, formal

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Royal protocol
• Yajña-dharma
• Alliance-building

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Sumantra
• nṛpati (kings)

FAQs

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

Public rites are strengthened by dhārmika leadership: righteous kings are invited to witness and support a dharmic undertaking.

What is the narrative situation?

With preparations underway, Vasiṣṭha directs Sumantra to begin formal invitations to worthy rulers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment in association (saṅga): choosing dhārmika companions for a sacred, public event.