Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 1

जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम्

Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila

Devanagari script

एवं ब्रुवाणं जनक: प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलि:।श्रोतुमर्हसि भद्रं ते कुलं न: परिकीर्तितम्।।।।

Transliteration

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ janakaḥ pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ |

śrotum arhasi bhadraṃ te kulaṃ naḥ parikīrtitam || 1.71.1 ||

Translation

このように語る彼に、ジャナカは合掌して答えた。「汝に吉祥あれ。いまこそ、我らの家の系譜が語り伝えられるところを聞くがよい。」

Word by Word

• प्रदाने: at the giving (in marriage)
• प्रदाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (मुनिषु श्रेष्ठः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुलम्: lineage
• कुलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of implied telling)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• निरवशेषतः: completely, without remainder
• निरवशेषतः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरवशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वक्तव्यम्: should be spoken/told
• वक्तव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्; gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘must be told’

• कुलजातेन: by one born in a noble family
• कुलजातेन: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलजात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (कुले जातः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• निबोध: understand/listen
• निबोध: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (महान् मुनिः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Vasishta having thus described (the genealogy of Dasaratha) Janaka with folded hands rejoined, "Be blessed. Let me relate the genealogy of my race. Listen".

Characters & Entities

• Janaka

FAQs

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

Truthful self-presentation with humility: Janaka honors the prior account and, with respectful demeanor, offers an accurate lineage narrative as required by dharma in alliances.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Daśaratha’s genealogy, Janaka prepares to present his own family line to the assembly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s humility and reverence (kṛtāñjali) alongside commitment to truthful narration (satya).