Shloka 8

दशमः सर्गः — Rama’s Vow to Protect the Sages of Daṇḍaka

Dharma of Refuge

Devanagari script

मया तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तेषामेवं मुखाच्च्युतम्।कृत्वा चरणशुश्रूषां वाक्यमेतदुदाहृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

mayā tu vacanaṃ śrutvā teṣām evaṃ mukhāc cyutam |

kṛtvā caraṇa-śuśrūṣāṃ vākyam etad udāhṛtam ||

Translation

ಅವರ ಮುಖದಿಂದ ಹೊರಬಂದ ಆ ವಚನಗಳನ್ನು ನಾನು ಕೇಳಿ, ಅವರ ಪಾದಗಳಿಗೆ ಶಿರಸಾ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ ಪಾದಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿ, ಅನಂತರ ಈ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಉಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3), Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta

• vacanam: statement
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2), Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) + ktvā
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त)

• teṣām: of them/their
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6), Bahuvacana

• evam: thus/in that way
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb

• mukhāt: from (their) mouth
• mukhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Pañcamī (5), Ekavacana

• cyutam: uttered/that came out
• cyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cyu (धातु) + kta
• Form: Kta-participle, Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vacanam ‘that which came forth’

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + ktvā
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त)

• caraṇaśuśrūṣām: service at (their) feet
• caraṇaśuśrūṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa + śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘caraṇa-śuśrūṣā’ = service at the feet; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2), Ekavacana

• vākyam: speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of vākyam

• udāhṛtam: was spoken/declared
• udāhṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु) + kta
• Form: Kta-participle, Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive ‘was uttered’

Context

On hearing the words that came from their mouth, I bowed at their feet and said:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring the spiritually accomplished; even a warrior-prince shows reverence to sages, recognizing moral and ascetic authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma receives the sages’ plea and respectfully bows before replying.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and reverence (vinaya) toward the righteous.