Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.21 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 21

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

मिथिलाधिपतिं शूरं जनकं सत्यविक्रमम्।निष्ठितं सर्वशास्त्रेषु तथा वेदेषु निष्ठितम्।।1.13.20।।तमानय महाभागं स्वयमेव सुसत्कृतम्।पूर्वसम्बन्धिनं ज्ञात्वा तत: पूर्वं ब्रवीमि ते।।1.13.21।।

Transliteration

mithilādhipatiṃ śūraṃ janakaṃ satyavikramam | niṣṭhitaṃ sarvaśāstreṣu tathā vedeṣu niṣṭhitam || 1.13.20 || tam ānaya mahābhāgaṃ svayam eva susatkṛtam | pūrvasambandhinaṃ jñātvā tataḥ pūrvaṃ bravīmi te || 1.13.21 ||

Translation

Undanglah Janaka, pahlawan penguasa Mithilā, yang keberaniannya berlandaskan kebenaran—teguh dalam segala śāstra dan juga mahir dalam Weda. Bawalah beliau yang mulia itu dengan penghormatan yang layak oleh tanganmu sendiri; karena mengetahui beliau sebagai sekutu dari ikatan lama, aku menyampaikan hal ini kepadamu terlebih dahulu.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थे

• केकयराजानम्: the king of Kekaya
• केकयराजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kekaya-rājan (प्रातिपदिक: kekaya + rājan)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• वृद्धम्: aged
• वृद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• परमधार्मिकम्: most righteous
• परमधार्मिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama-dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक: parama + dhārmika)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• श्वशुरम्: father-in-law
• श्वशुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvaśura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• राजसिंहस्य: of the lion among kings
• राजसिंहस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-siṃha (प्रातिपदिक: rāja + siṃha)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• सपुत्रम्: together with his sons
• सपुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-putra (प्रातिपदिक: sa + putra)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; (सह-सम्बन्ध: 'with sons')

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (here)

• आनय: bring
• आनय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + nī (धातु)
• Form: लोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

After offering humble salutations and worshipping sage Vasishta in accordance with prescribed ordinance for begetting children, he obediently said:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Mithilā
• Vedas

FAQs

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

Dharma honors satya-based leadership: a righteous rite calls for the presence of rulers renowned for truth, learning, and integrity.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha instructs Sumantra to give special, personal invitation to King Janaka of Mithilā due to prior alliance and his distinguished virtues.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya (truth) as the basis of vikrama (valor), coupled with śāstra- and veda-niṣṭhā (steadfast learning and discipline).