Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 12

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तमुवाच महातेजा: प्रणम्याभिप्रसाद्य च।ब्रह्मर्षिं तपसा दीप्तं राजर्षिरमितप्रभ:।।।।पृष्ट्वा सर्वत्र कुशलमृचीकं तमिदं वच:।

Transliteration

tam uvāca mahātejāḥ praṇamyābhiprasādya ca | brahmarṣiṃ tapasā dīptaṃ rājarṣir amitaprabhaḥ || pṛṣṭvā sarvatra kuśalam ṛcīkaṃ tam idaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അത്യന്തം പ്രഭയുള്ള രാജർഷി, പ്രണാമം ചെയ്ത് പ്രസാദിപ്പിച്ച ശേഷം, തപോബലത്തിൽ ദീപ്തനായ ബ്രഹ്മർഷി ഋചീകനെ എല്ലായിടത്തെയും ക്ഷേമം ചോദിച്ചറിഞ്ഞ്, ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), बहुवचन; dependent genitive with śatasahasreṇa (‘of cows’)

• शतसहस्रेण: with a hundred thousand (as price)
• शतसहस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘a hundred-thousand’) used as price/means

• विक्रीणीषे: you sell
• विक्रीणीषे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्री (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘you sell’

• सुतम्: (your) son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of vikrīṇīṣe

• यदि: if
• यदि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional ‘if’)

• पशोः: of an animal
• पशोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive with arthe (‘for the sake of an animal’)

• अर्थे: for the sake of
• अर्थे: Prayojana-adhikaraṇa (प्रयोजन-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; purpose/for the sake of (locative of purpose)

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; address

• कृतकृत्यः: one whose task is accomplished
• कृतकृत्यः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘asmi’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भार्गव: O Bhārgava
• भार्गव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; descendant of Bhṛgu

Context

The most brilliant king(Ambarisha) bowing to sage Richika, a brahmarshi who looked extremely resplendent with penance, propitiated him, enquired about the welfare of all and finally said":

Characters & Entities

• King Ambarīṣa
• Ṛcīka
• brahmarṣi
• tapas (austerity)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires humility and proper approach: even a king must bow, speak respectfully, and first ask after welfare before presenting his request.

What is the narrative situation?

King Ambarīṣa meets Ṛcīka, honors him, and begins a petition after courteous enquiry.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence (vinaya) and civility—royal power is restrained by respect for spiritual authority.