Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 6

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon-Lore

Devanagari script

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्साक्षाद्धर्म इवापर:।धृतिमान् सुव्रत: श्रीमान्नधर्मं हातुमर्हसि।।।।

Transliteration

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātaḥ sākṣād dharma ivāparaḥ |

dhṛtimān suvrataḥ śrīmān na dharmaṃ hātum arhasi ||

Translation

イクシュヴァークの家に生まれたあなたは、まさにダルマそのものの化身——目に見えるもう一つのダルマである。忍耐強く誓いに篤く、栄光ある者よ、決して正義を捨ててはならぬ。

Word by Word

• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: of the Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• कुले: in the lineage/family
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• जातः: born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'born'

• साक्षात्: directly/manifestly
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (directly, manifestly)

• धर्मः: Dharma/righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like/as)

• अपरः: another (as it were)
• अपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (another/second)

• धृतिमान्: firm/steadfast
• धृतिमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing firmness)

• सुव्रतः: of excellent vows
• सुव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing splendor/fortune)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हातुम्: to abandon
• हातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), परस्मैपद-धातु; 'to abandon'

• अर्हसि: you are fit/ought
• अर्हसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Context

Satisfied in his mind at the words of the sage (Vasishta), the full one among the Raghus' (Dasaratha) one with wide reputation, his frame shining gave his cheerfulconsent to the son of Kusika for Rama's departure.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha
• Ikṣvāku dynasty
• Dharma (personified ideal)

FAQs

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

A king’s identity is inseparable from dharma; abandoning righteousness (including truth to one’s promise) is portrayed as self-contradiction for an Ikṣvāku ruler.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha counsels Daśaratha after Viśvāmitra’s anger, reminding him of his lineage and urging him not to forsake dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s expected virtues: steadiness (dhṛti), vow-keeping (suvrata), and commitment to righteous conduct as the foundation of kingship.