Shloka 23

जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम्

Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila

Devanagari script

ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते रघुनन्दन।।1.71.22।।रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् गोदानं कारयस्व ह।पितृकार्यं च भद्रं ते ततो वैवाहिकं कुरु।।1.71.23।।

Transliteration

udāvasos tu dharmātmā jāto vai nandivardhanaḥ |

nandivardhanaputras tu suketur nāma nāmataḥ ||

Translation

ഉദാവസുവിൽ നിന്നു ധർമ്മാത്മാവായ നന്ദിവർധനൻ ജനിച്ചു; നന്ദിവർധനന്റെ പുത്രൻ സുകേതു എന്ന പേരിൽ തന്നെ പ്രസിദ്ധനായി.

Word by Word

• makhāḥ: (the star) Makhā
• makhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (nakṣatra-name), Nominative, Singular

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) giving reason/emphasis

• adya: today
• adya: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• mahābāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahābāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular; 'mighty-armed'

• tṛtīye: on the third
• tṛtīye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; qualifying divase

• divase: day
• divase: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• phalgunyām: in (the star) Phalgunī
• phalgunyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phalgunī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (nakṣatra-name), Locative, Singular

• uttare: in (the star) Uttarā
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (nakṣatra-name), Locative, Singular; coordinate with phalgunyām

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• tasmin: on that (occasion)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• vaivāhikam: marriage rite
• vaivāhikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivāhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• kuru: perform
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ, Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• rāmalakṣmaṇayoḥ: of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• rāmalakṣmaṇayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• dānam: gift, donation
• dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• kāryam: to be done
• kāryam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective 'to be done' qualifying dānam

• sukhodayam: bringing happiness
• sukhodayam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa 'bringing rise of happiness' qualifying dānam

Context

O Delight of the Raghus (King Dasaratha), I offer these brides with immense pleasure to Rama and Lakshmana. You may perform the rites for your forefathers by gift of cows. Prosperity to you. Thereafter you may perform the marriage.

Characters & Entities

• Udāvasu
• Suketu

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as a living inheritance—each generation is measured by righteousness, not merely succession.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra continues listing the royal ancestors in Mithilā’s line leading toward Janaka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dharmic continuity—Nandivardhana is singled out as ‘dharmātmā’ (righteous in soul).