Valmiki Ramayana 1.7.4 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 7, Shloka 4

अमात्य-गुणवर्णनम्

The Virtues of Daśaratha’s Ministers and the Order of Governance

Devanagari script

ऋत्विजौ द्वावभिमतौ तस्याऽऽस्तामृषिसत्तमौ ।वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च मन्त्रिणश्च तथापरे ।।।।

Transliteration

ṛtvijau dvāv abhimatau tasyāstām ṛṣisattamau |

vasiṣṭho vāmadevaś ca mantriṇaś ca tathāpare ||

Translation

അവന് പ്രിയങ്കരരായ രണ്ട് ഋഷിശ്രേഷ്ഠർ രാജപുരോഹിതന്മാരായി ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു—വസിഷ്ഠനും വാമദേവനും; കൂടാതെ മറ്റു മന്ത്രിമാരും ഉപദേശകരും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• विद्याविनीताḥ: educated / trained in knowledge
• विद्याविनीताḥ: विशेषण (Qualifier of अमात्याः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + विनीत (प्रातिपदिक; विद्याविनीत)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): विद्यया विनीताः; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ह्रीमन्तः: modest / possessing shame (sense of propriety)
• ह्रीमन्तः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रीमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• कुशलाः: skilled
• कुशलाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• नियत-इन्द्रियाः: self-controlled / with restrained senses
• नियत-इन्द्रियाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; नियतेन्द्रिय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: नियतानि इन्द्रियाणि येषाम् (sense: restrained senses); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• श्रीमन्तः: prosperous / wealthy
• श्रीमन्तः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• महात्मानः: great-souled / noble
• महात्मानः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• शास्त्रज्ञाः: versed in the śāstras
• शास्त्रज्ञाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; शास्त्रज्ञ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: शास्त्रस्य ज्ञाः; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• दृढविक्रमाः: firm in prowess
• दृढविक्रमाः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक; दृढविक्रम)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: दृढः विक्रमः येषाम्; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• कीर्तिमन्तः: renowned
• कीर्तिमन्तः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्तिमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• प्रणिहिताः: attentive / well-disposed / intent
• प्रणिहिताः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नि + धा (धातु) → प्रणिहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• यथा-वचन-कारिणः: acting according to instructions
• यथा-वचन-कारिणः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): वचनं यथा तथा करोति इति; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• तेजः-क्षमा-यशः-प्राप्ताः: possessing splendour, forbearance, and fame
• तेजः-क्षमा-यशः-प्राप्ताः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस् + क्षमा + यशस् + प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (तेजः+क्षमा+यशः) + तत्पुरुष with प्राप्त (obtained/possessed); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• स्मित-पूर्व-अभिभाषिणः: speaking with a smile first
• स्मित-पूर्व-अभिभाषिणः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि + भाष् (धातु) → अभिभाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: स्मितपूर्वम् अभिभाषते इति; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Context

In the three worlds he (Dasaratha) was acclaimed in the three words as munificient and upholder of truth, a tiger among men, who ruled protecting and guarding the people through spies. He. ruled the kingdom with righteousness by deserting irreligious and keeping the subjects happy.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Vasiṣṭha
• Vāmadeva

FAQs

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

Dharmic kingship is guided by sacred wisdom: the king’s policies and rites are anchored by ṛṣis who embody śāstra and moral authority.

What is the narrative situation?

After naming the ministers, the narration notes Daśaratha’s principal royal priests, indicating a court balanced by political counsel and spiritual guidance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for dharma through reliance on learned sages and proper ritual order.