Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 26

पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः — Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival

Bālakāṇḍa 18

Devanagari script

गजस्कन्धेऽश्वपृष्ठे च रथचर्यासु सम्मत:।।।।धनुर्वेदे च निरत: पितृशुश्रूषणे रत:।

Transliteration

gajaskandhe ’śvapṛṣṭhe ca rathacaryāsu sammataḥ ||

dhanurvede ca nirataḥ pitṛśuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ ||

Translation

象に乗ること、馬にまたがること、戦車の操縦と機動においても名高く、弓術の学に励み、父母への孝養に心を尽くしていた。

Word by Word

• गजस्कन्धे: on an elephant's shoulder/back
• गजस्कन्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज-स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गजस्य स्कन्धः)

• अश्वपृष्ठे: on a horse's back
• अश्वपृष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व-पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्वस्य पृष्ठम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रथचर्यासु: in chariot-driving/handling
• रथचर्यासु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ-चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (रथे चर्या)

• सम्मतः: approved/esteemed (as proficient)
• सम्मतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + मन् (धातु) → सम्मत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘accepted/approved (as skilled)’

• धनुर्वेदे: in the science of archery
• धनुर्वेदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्-वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (धनुषः वेदः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निरतः: engaged
• निरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + रम् (धातु) → निरत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘engaged/absorbed’

• पितृशुश्रूषणे: in service to parents
• पितृशुश्रूषणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पितॄणां शुश्रूषणम्)

• रतः: devoted
• रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम् (धातु) → रत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘devoted/delighting in’

Context

Accepted as skilled in mounting elephants, riding horses, driving chariots and also in archery, he was always emgaged in the service of his parents.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• dhanurveda (archery science)
• elephant
• horse
• chariot

FAQs

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

Competence must be joined to humility and filial duty: kṣātra skills (martial arts) are dharmic when guided by service and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator lists Rāma’s training in royal and martial disciplines alongside his devotion to his parents.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discipline—both technical mastery and respectful service (śuśrūṣā) toward parents.