Valmiki Ramayana 1.8.5-6: Bala Kanda, Sarga 8, Shlokas 5-6

अष्टमः सर्गः · Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse

Sacrifice) for Progeny

Narrated by ValmikiSetting: Ayodhya

Devanagari script

ततस्सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः ।

समानयत्स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान्वेदपारगान् ॥५॥

सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् ।

परोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये व्दिजसत्तमाः ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.8.5-6

Transliteration

tatassumantrastvaritaṃ gatvā tvaritavikramaḥ |

samānayatsa tān sarvān samastānvedapāragān ||5||

suyajñaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālimatha kāśyapam |

parohitaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca ye cānye vdijasattamāḥ ||6||

Translation

सुमंत्र तुरंत चला गया। उन्होंने सब वेद के ज्ञाता को बुलाया। सुयज्ञ, वामदेव, जाबालि, कश्यप और पुरोहित वशिष्ठ आए। और भी बहुत बड़े-बड़े ब्राह्मण आए।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; from तद्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of sequence)
• Role: काल-अधिकरण (Temporal adverb)

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā)

• इदम्: this (command)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object; content)

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)

• सुमन्त्रम्: Sumantra
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: सम्प्रदान/कर्म (Recipient/Addressed object)

• मन्त्रिसत्तमम्: best of ministers
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्रिन् + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (best among ministers), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'सुमन्त्रम्' इति विशेष्येण सह
• Role: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of manner)
• Role: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• आनय: bring
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया (Kriyā)

• मे: for me / to me
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Genitive/Dative singular; enclitic)
• Role: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Beneficiary)

• सर्वान्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'गुरून्' इति विशेष्येण सह
• Role: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)

• गुरून्: teachers, elders
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma/Object of 'आनय')

• तान्: those
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
• Role: कर्म (Karma; appositional)

• सपुरोहितान्: together with the priests
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (with priests), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'तान्/गुरून्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

Sandhi Notes

• ततोऽब्रवीत् = ततः + अब्रवीत्। अब्रवीदिदम् = अब्रवीत् + इदम्। सर्वान्गुरून् = सर्वान् + गुरून्।

Context

Thereupon Sumantra of swift movement immediateiy brought together Suyajna, Vamadeva,Jabali, Kasyapa and priest Vasistha along with other brahmins who had mastery over the Vedas.

The teaching

A king should always seek the counsel of Vedic scholars and spiritual guides for important decisions

Ethical theme

Raja-dharma

For your practice

Demonstrates the importance of seeking guidance from those established in Vedic wisdom

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Urgent, purposeful, reverent

Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual
• Guru-Shishya Parampara
• Vedic Tradition
• Kingly Duty
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Suyajna
• Vamadeva
• Jabali
• Kasyapa
• Vasistha
• Dasaratha
• Vedas

FAQs

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

The verse exemplifies the Dharma of a king performing sacred rituals with proper guidance. Dasaratha demonstrates his commitment to Dharma by consulting Vedic masters before undertaking the Ashvamedha sacrifice. The swift response of Sumantra shows the virtue of obedience and efficiency in executing the king's righteous commands.

What is the narrative situation?

King Dasaratha, desiring a son, has decided to perform the Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) and instructs his minister Sumantra to summon all the royal priests and Vedic scholars. Sumantra promptly gathers the eminent sages including Vasistha, Vamadeva, and others for consultation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue of prompt obedience and efficiency (tvaritavikramaḥ - swift in action) is emphasized in Sumantra. Additionally, the gathering of 'vedapāragān' (masters of Vedas) highlights the importance of seeking guidance from learned scholars for important decisions, showing respect for Vedic wisdom.