Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 98

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

इदं पवित्रं पापघ्नं पुण्यं वेदैश्च सम्मितम् ।य: पठेद्रामचरितं सर्वपापै: प्रमुच्यते ।।।।

Transliteration

idaṃ pavitraṃ pāpaghnaṃ puṇyaṃ vedaiś ca sammitam |

yaḥ paṭhed rāmacaritaṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate ||

Translation

Kisah suci tentang Rāma ini menyucikan, memusnahkan dosa, dan penuh pahala—layak disejajarkan dengan Weda. Siapa yang membaca atau melantunkan carita Rāma, terbebas dari segala dosa.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/object; with ākhyānam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ākhyānam: narrative; account
• ākhyānam: Karma (कर्म/object of paṭhan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• āyuṣyam: life-promoting; giving longevity
• āyuṣyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ākhyānam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyuṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; फलवाचक विशेषण

• paṭhan: reading
• paṭhan: Kartā (कर्ता; participial: 'while reading')
• Type: Verb
• Root: paṭh (धातु) → paṭhant (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• rāmāyaṇam: the Rāmāyaṇa
• rāmāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म/object of paṭhan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāmāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sa-putra-pautraḥ: together with sons and grandsons
• sa-putra-pautraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of naraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + pautra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (with sons and grandsons)

• sa-gaṇaḥ: with his group/retinue
• sa-gaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of naraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (with attendants/group)

• pretya: after death
• pretya: Kāla (काल/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-i (धातु) → pretya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) अर्थे: 'प्रेत्य' = 'after dying/after death'

• svarge: in heaven
• svarge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• mahīyate: is honored; is glorified
• mahīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mah (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is honored')

Context

This story of Rama is sacred and holy. It destroys sins and is equal to the Vedas. Whosoever reads it will be freed from all sins.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Vedas

FAQs

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

Engagement with dharmic narrative is itself a discipline: reciting and internalizing Rāma’s life purifies conduct and aligns one with satya and dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

At the close of the opening synopsis, the text states the spiritual benefit (phala) of reading/reciting the Rāmacarita.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The exemplary power of Rāma’s dharmic life—his story functions as a moral and spiritual model that removes wrongdoing through reflection and practice.