Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 13

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव।विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य महर्षिमपराजितम्।।।।

Transliteration

svāgataṁ te nara-śreṣṭha diṣṭyā prāpto ’si rāghava | viśvāmitraṁ puraskṛtya maharṣim aparājitam ||

Translation

ຂໍຕ້ອນຮັບທ່ານ ໂອ້ຜູ້ປະເສີດໃນບັນດາມະນຸດ ໂອ້ຣາຆະວະ; ໂດຍບຸນວາສະນາ ທ່ານໄດ້ມາຮອດ ໂດຍມີມະຫາຣິສີວິສະວາມິດຕຣະຜູ້ບໍ່ມີໃຜຊະນະໄດ້ ນໍາໜ້າເປັນຄູ່ນໍາ

Word by Word

• svāgatam: welcome
• svāgatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-āgata (प्रातिपदिक; सु + आगत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; आशीर्वचन-प्रयोग (welcome)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• naraśreṣṭha: O best of men
• naraśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक; नर + श्रेष्ठ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नराणां श्रेष्ठः)

• diṣṭyā: by good fortune
• diṣṭyā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: diṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण प्रयुक्तम्; भावार्थे अव्ययवत् (fortunately)

• prāptaḥ: arrived
• prāptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे (you having come)

• asi: are/have (come)
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• rāghava: O Rāghava
• rāghava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viśvāmitram: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• puraskṛtya: having placed in front/honoring
• puraskṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: puras-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), उपसर्ग/अव्यय: पुरस्; (having placed in front/honoring)

• maharṣim: the great seer
• maharṣim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ऋषि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य: viśvāmitram

• aparājitam: invincible
• aparājitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-parājita (प्रातिपदिक; अ + पराजित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक विशेषण (invincible)

Context

"O Best of men! O Son of the Raghus you are fortunate to have come here followingthe invincible maharshi Viswamitra. Welcome to you.

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as hospitality and honoring rightful leadership: welcoming a guest and acknowledging the protective guidance of a great sage.

What is the narrative situation?

Śatānanda formally greets Rāma and notes that Rāma’s arrival under Viśvāmitra’s guidance is auspicious.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śatānanda’s courtesy and discernment—he recognizes both Rāma’s nobility and Viśvāmitra’s spiritual authority.