Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 7

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा।धर्मार्थसहितं युक्तं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tān pūjayitvā dharmātmā rājā daśarathas tadā | dharmārthasahitaṃ yuktaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

彼らを敬い供養してのち、法に生きるダシャラタ王は、法と正しき目的にかなう、柔らかく理にかなった言葉を述べた。

Word by Word

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• lālapyamānasya: of (me) lamenting/being distressed
• lālapyamānasya: Sambandha-viśeṣaṇa (सम्बन्ध-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √lalap (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kāla passive participle (वर्तमानकाल कर्मणि), Masculine Genitive Singular; qualifying (mama) understood 'of me who am lamenting'

• putrārtham: for the sake of a son/sons
• putrārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (putrasya arthaḥ), Neuter Accusative Singular; purpose-accusative

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular; subject of asti

• tadartham: for that reason/purpose
• tadartham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (tad-artham = for that purpose)

• hayamedhena: by the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• hayamedhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक) + medha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (haya-medha), Masculine Instrumental Singular

• yakṣyāmi: I shall sacrifice/perform (a rite)
• yakṣyāmi: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic Future), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष) Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle

• matiḥ: intention/resolve
• matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता; of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular; subject (intention)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive Singular

Context

After paying respect to them (learned brahmins), virtuous king Dasaratha graciously uttered these words charged with dharma and artha.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma includes right speech: honoring the wise and speaking with courtesy and purpose is itself an ethical practice for rulers and householders.

What is the narrative situation?

After welcoming and honoring the assembled priests, Daśaratha begins to address them formally.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s humility and refined speech (śīla) in dealing with learned elders.