Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 54

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

तस्याशिषोऽथ विधिवद्ब्राह्मणैस्समुदीरिता:।उदारस्य नृवीरस्य धरण्यां प्रणतस्य च ।।।।

Transliteration

tasyāśiṣo ’tha vidhivad brāhmaṇaiḥ samudīritāḥ | udārasya nṛvīrasya dharaṇyāṃ praṇatasya ca ||

Translation

അനന്തരം ആ ഉദാരനായ നരവീരൻ ഭൂമിയിൽ ദണ്ഡവത് പ്രണാമമായി വീണുകിടക്കുമ്പോൾ, ബ്രാഹ്മണർ വിധിപൂർവ്വം അവനു ആശീർവാദങ്ങൾ ഉച്ചരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśiṣaḥ: blessings
• āśiṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of samudīritāḥ, in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन) (Vedic/epic usage; stem āśis/āśīḥ) — ‘blessings’

• atha: then
• atha: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘then/thereupon’

• vidhivat: duly, as prescribed
• vidhivat: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhivat (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘according to rule/procedure’

• brāhmaṇaiḥ: by the brahmins
• brāhmaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• samudīritāḥ: were uttered
• samudīritāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ud + īr (ईर्/इर् धातु) / udīrita (PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with āśiṣaḥ — ‘were uttered’

• udārasya: of the generous
• udārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies nṛvīrasya/tasya

• nṛvīrasya: of the hero among men
• nṛvīrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ + vīra (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); ‘hero among men’

• dharaṇyām: on the earth (ground)
• dharaṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• praṇatasya: of (him) prostrated
• praṇatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇata (प्रातिपदिक; PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of (him) prostrated’

• ca: and
• ca: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय) ‘and’

Context

Brahmins uttered blessings upon the generous king when he prostrated before themaccording to procedure.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brāhmaṇas
• Dharaṇī (earth/ground, as locus of prostration)

FAQs

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

Reciprocity within dharma: humility and proper conduct invite rightful blessings; social-spiritual order is maintained through vidhivat (rule-based) action.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha prostrates himself; the brāhmaṇas respond by formally pronouncing blessings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverent submission to dharma—Daśaratha’s prostration reflects disciplined respect rather than mere royal pride.