Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 2

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

तमर्चयित्वा धर्मात्मा शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा।राघवौ च महात्मानौ तदा वाक्यमुवाच ह।।1.66.2।।

Transliteration

tam arcayitvā dharmātmā śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā |

rāghavau ca mahātmānau tadā vākyam uvāca ha ||1.66.2||

Translation

法にかなう作法、すなわちシャーストラに示された儀礼によってヴィシュヴァーミトラを礼拝し、義なる心のジャナカはまた大いなるラाघヴァたちにも相応の敬意を捧げ、そして語り始めた。

Word by Word

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

• अर्चयित्वा: having honoured
• अर्चयित्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having worshipped’

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous-souled one
• धर्मात्मा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; bahuvrīhi: धर्मः आत्मा यस्य; Nominative singular

• शास्त्र-दृष्टेन: prescribed by scripture
• शास्त्र-दृष्टेन: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र + दृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; compound: शास्त्रेण दृष्टम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); qualifying कर्मणा

• कर्मणा: by an act/rite
• कर्मणा: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• राघवौ: the two Rāghavas (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa)
• राघवौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; Nominative dual

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• महात्मानौ: great-souled
• महात्मानौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; compound: महान् आत्मा (महात्मा); adjective of राघवौ; Nominative dual

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय; time-adverb

• वाक्यम्: words/speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘said’

• ह: indeed/just
• ह: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; narrative particle

Context

"O Eminent ascetic! thereafter all the gods with agitated minds propitiated lord of the gods, Siva and he was pleased with them.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• śāstra

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as maryādā (proper conduct): honouring teachers, guests, and worthy persons through śāstra-guided actions rather than impulse or pride.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka formally welcomes and honours Viśvāmitra and the two princes, and prepares to speak—setting the stage for his account of Sītā and the bow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s virtue of dhārmikatā—disciplined righteousness shown through respectful, scripturally appropriate hospitality.