Valmiki Ramayana 2.26.13: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 26, Shloka 13

अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः

Rama’s Departure and Sita’s Questions; Disclosure of Exile and Counsel on Courtly Conduct

Devanagari script

न ते क्षौद्रं च दधि च ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः।मूर्ध्नि मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य ददति स्म विधानतः।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.26.13

Transliteration

na te kṣaudraṃ ca dadhi ca brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ | mūrdhni mūrdhābhiṣiktasya dadati sma vidhānataḥ ||

Translation

വേദപാരംഗതരായ ബ്രാഹ്മണർ വിധിപ്രകാരം മൂർധാഭിഷിക്തനായ നിന്റെ ശിരസ്സിൽ ക്ഷൗദ്രവും ദധിയും ചേർന്ന മിശ്രണം എന്തുകൊണ്ട് തളിക്കുന്നില്ല?

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (not)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘your’

• kṣaudram: honey
• kṣaudram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• dadhi: curds
• dadhi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• veda-pāragāḥ: versed in the Vedas
• veda-pāragāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + pāra-ga (कृदन्त; √gam धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; brāhmaṇāḥ-विशेषण; तत्पुरुष: वेदानां पारं गताः (gone to the far shore of the Vedas)

• mūrdhni: on the head
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• mūrdha-abhīṣiktasya: of the consecrated one
• mūrdha-abhīṣiktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiṣikta (कृदन्त; √sic धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मूर्ध्नि अभिषिक्तः (one consecrated on the head)

• dadati: give/place
• dadati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• sma: indeed/used to
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (past-habitual marker with present: used to/did)

• vidhānataḥ: according to the rite
• vidhānataḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to rule/rite’

Context

How is it that brahmins versed in the Vedas have not duly sprinkled the mixture of honey and curd on your head (prior to your consecration)?

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (brāhmaṇāḥ)
• Vedas (veda)

FAQs

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

Dharma here appears as fidelity to prescribed social-religious order: royal consecration is not merely political but a sanctified rite, and its absence signals a rupture in rightful procedure.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā observes that the usual signs of Rāma’s imminent coronation are missing and questions him about the disrupted preparations.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s attentiveness and discernment: she recognizes dharmic/ritual markers of kingship and perceives that something is wrong.