Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 41

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

अथोपकार्यां जग्मुस्ते सभार्या रघुनन्दना:।राजाऽप्यनुययौ पश्यंत्सर्षिसंघ स्सबान्धव:।।।।

Transliteration

athopakāryāṃ jagmus te sabhāryā raghunandanāḥ | rājā 'py anuyayau paśyan sarṣisaṅghaḥ sabāndhavaḥ ||

Translation

それからラグの子らは妻たちを伴い、定められた居所へ向かった。王もまた、仙人たちの集いと親族を伴って見守りつつ後に続いた。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तर-अव्यय; adverb ‘then’

• उपकार्याम्: to the (wedding) pavilion/tents
• उपकार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (goal/direction)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; 3rd person plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• सभार्याः: along with (their) wives
• सभार्याः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (स-भार्य = भार्यया सह); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (qualifying raghunandanāḥ)

• रघुनन्दनाः: sons of Raghu
• रघुनन्दनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघु + नन्दन (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रघोः नन्दनाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (also/even)

• अनुययौ: followed/accompanied
• अनुययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• पश्यन्: seeing, watching
• पश्यन्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त) → पश्यत्
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ, present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with rājā

• सर्षिसङ्घः: with a host of sages
• सर्षिसङ्घः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + ऋषि + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (स-ऋषि-सङ्घ = ऋषिसङ्घेन सह); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (apposition to rājā)

• सबान्धवः: with (his) relatives
• सबान्धवः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (स-बान्धव = बान्धवैः सह); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (qualifying rājā)

Context

Thereafter the descendants of Raghu along with their wives departed for their tents. The king (Dasaratha) also accompanied them with hosts of rishis and relatives.ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē trisaptatitamassarga:৷৷Thus ends the seventythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• ṛṣis (assemblies of seers)

FAQs

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

It underscores dharmic social harmony: elders, seers, and family collectively witness and support the transition into household life, making the rite accountable and communal.

What is the narrative situation?

After the wedding rites conclude, the newly married princes retire to their quarters; Daśaratha accompanies them along with ṛṣis and relatives.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Parental responsibility and affectionate guardianship: the king’s presence reflects care, oversight, and respect for ritual completion.