Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 33, Shloka 21

कुशनाभकन्याशतविवाहः — The Marriage of Kuśanābha’s Hundred Daughters

and the Birth of Brahmadatta

Devanagari script

तमाहूय महातेजा ब्रह्मदत्तं महीपति:। ददौ कन्याशतं राजा सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना।।1.33.21।।

Transliteration

tam āhūya mahātejā brahmadattaṁ mahīpatiḥ |

dadau kanyāśataṁ rājā suprītenāntarātmanā ||1.33.21||

Translation

Sang penguasa bumi yang berteja besar itu memanggil Brahmadatta, lalu dengan hati yang amat gembira menganugerahkan kepadanya seratus gadis itu.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्वे (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• महातेजाः: the mighty one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (महत् तेजः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मदत्तम्: Brahmadatta
• ब्रह्मदत्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘आहूय’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महीपतिः: lord of the earth (king)
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महीपती); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कन्या-शतम्: a hundred maidens
• कन्या-शतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुप्रीतेन: with very pleased
• सुप्रीतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘with very pleased’ (qualifying अन्तरात्मना)

• अन्तरात्मना: with (his) inner heart
• अन्तरात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अन्तरः आत्मा); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

Context

The lord of the earth, highly powerful king Kusanabha invited Brahmadatta, and gave his hundred daughters in marriage to him with a heart highly pleased.

Characters & Entities

• Kūśanābha
• Brahmadatta

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed through rightful giving (dāna) and proper marital arrangement—acts performed with goodwill, not coercion.

What is the narrative situation?

Kūśanābha formally invites Brahmadatta and offers his hundred daughters in marriage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The king’s generosity and auspicious intent—acting from a ‘suprīta’ (fully pleased) heart.