Valmiki Ramayana 1.73.4: Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 4

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

स्वस्रीयं मम राजेन्द्र द्रष्टुकामो महीपति:।तदर्थमुपयातोऽहमयोध्यां रघुनन्दन।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.73.4

Transliteration

svasrīyaṁ mama rājendra draṣṭukāmo mahīpatiḥ | tadartham upayāto 'ham ayodhyāṁ raghunandana ||

Translation

“രാജേന്ദ്രാ, കേകയദേശത്തിന്റെ മഹീപതിക്ക് എന്റെ സഹോദരിയുടെ പുത്രനെ കാണുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; അതിനാലാണ് ഞാൻ അയോധ്യയിൽ വന്നത്, രഘുനന്ദനാ.”

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Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā-sahakārī (क्रियासहकारी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ayodhyāyām: in Ayodhyā
• ayodhyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayodhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• vivāha-artham: for (their) marriage
• vivāha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: 'vivāhasya arthe' = for marriage-purpose

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), एकवचन

• ātmajān: sons
• ātmajān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), बहुवचन

• mithilām: to Mithilā
• mithilām: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• upayātān: who had gone/arrived
• upayātān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√yā (उप+या धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), बहुवचन; 'ātmajān' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• tvayā: with you
• tvayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instr/3rd), एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• mahīpate: O king
• mahīpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• tvarayā: with haste
• tvarayā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr/3rd), एकवचन; साधन/रीति (instrumental of manner)

• abhyupayātaḥ: have come quickly
• abhyupayātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-upa-√yā (अभि+उप+या धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having come up/approached'

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• draṣṭu-kāmaḥ: wishing to see
• draṣṭu-kāmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त + तत्पुरुष: 'draṣṭuṃ kāmaḥ'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• svasuḥ: of (my) sister
• svasuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svasṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen/6th), एकवचन

• sutam: son
• sutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

Context

The king of Kekaya, O Indra among kings, O Joy of the Raghus, desires to see my sisters's son and on that account I went to Ayodhya.

Characters & Entities

• Yudhājit
• Kekaya (kingdom/ruler implied)
• Ayodhyā
• Daśaratha (implied addressee)
• Raghu lineage (Raghunandana)

FAQs

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

It reflects kinship-duty and truthful communication: family ties generate rightful obligations (to meet, inquire, and maintain bonds), stated plainly and respectfully.

What is the narrative situation?

Yudhājit explains to Daśaratha why he came to Ayodhyā: the Kekaya ruler desired to see his nephew (the sister’s son).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful speech and fidelity to family responsibility—acting promptly to fulfill relational duties.