Shloka 15

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

कृतकौतुकसर्वस्वा वेदिमूलमुपागता:।।।।मम कन्या मुनिश्रेष्ठ दीप्ता वह्नेरिवार्चिष:।

Transliteration

kṛtakautukasarvasvā vedimūlam upāgatāḥ | mama kanyā muniśreṣṭha dīptā vahner ivārciṣaḥ ||

Translation

ಮುನಿಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನೇ, ನನ್ನ ಪುತ್ರಿಯರು ಸಕಲ ಮಂಗಳ ಕೌತುಕ-ವಿಧಿಗಳನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿ ವೇದಿಯ ಮೂಲದ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ; ಪವಿತ್ರ ಅಗ್ನಿಯ ಜ್ವಾಲೆಗಳಂತೆ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• कृतकौतुकसर्वस्वाः: having completed the rites
• कृतकौतुकसर्वस्वाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (qualifying 'kanyāḥ')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + कौतुक + सर्वस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समास: कृतं कौतुकं यस्याः सा / कृत-कौतुक-सर्वस्व (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष, अर्थतः 'having completed all marriage-rites')

• वेदिमूलम्: the base of the altar
• वेदिमूलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (goal reached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदी + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समास: वेद्याः मूलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) — 'the foot/base of the altar'

• उपागताः: arrived
• उपागताः: क्रिया (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम् (धातु) + उपागत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रथमा, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग — 'having come/arrived' (predicative)

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन — 'of me/my'

• कन्याः: daughters
• कन्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग — 'daughters/maidens'

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; समास: मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) — 'O best of sages'

• दीप्ताः: shining
• दीप्ताः: विशेषण (Qualifier of 'kanyāḥ')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु) + दीप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; प्रथमा, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग — 'shining'

• वह्नेः: of fire
• वह्नेः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग — 'of fire'

• इव: like
• इव: असम्बद्ध (Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय — 'like/as'

• अर्चिषः: flames
• अर्चिषः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैकल्पिकं नपुंसकप्रयोगः) — 'flames/rays'

Context

O Best of ascetics! my daughters have performed all the rites relating to marriage. They (now) stand at the foot of the altar shining like the bright flames of fire.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Vasiṣṭha
• vedi (altar)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as fidelity to sacred rites and social responsibility: marriage is framed as a sanctified duty conducted with completeness and purity, not merely a personal event.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka informs Vasiṣṭha that the brides have completed the required rites and are ready at the altar for the wedding ceremony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s conscientiousness and reverence for ritual order; the daughters’ auspicious readiness and purity are highlighted through the fire-flame simile.