Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 20

ऋश्यशृङ्गानयनकथा — The Account of Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga

and the Remedy for Drought

Devanagari script

द्वैविध्यं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य भविष्यति महात्मन:।

लोकेषु प्रथितं राजन्विप्रैश्च कथितं सदा।।

Transliteration

dvaividhyaṃ brahmacaryasya bhaviṣyati mahātmanaḥ |

lokeṣu prathitaṃ rājan vipraiś ca kathitaṃ sadā ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ, ആ മഹാത്മാവിന് ബ്രഹ്മചര്യത്തിന്റെ ദ്വിവിധ ആചരണം ഉണ്ടാകും; അത് ലോകങ്ങളിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധവും പണ്ഡിത ബ്രാഹ്മണന്മാർ എപ്പോഴും വർണ്ണിക്കുന്നതുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• sumantraḥ: Sumantra
• sumantraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of 'provāca')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• coditaḥ: prompted
• coditaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √cud (धातु) → codita (क्त/PPP)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; 'prompted'

• rājñā: by the king
• rājñā: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive with 'coditaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular

• provāca: said / spoke forth
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect) in epic narrative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person Singular

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'provāca')
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative Singular

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; in apposition to 'idam'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time (कालवाचक)

• yathā: how
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, 'how/in what manner'

• ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ: Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of passive 'ānītaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• tu: indeed
• tu: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• ānītaḥ: was brought
• ānītaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (embedded passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nī (धातु) → ānīta (क्त/PPP)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया) (imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd person Singular (मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन)

• me: to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (recipient of listening)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (चतुर्थी) Singular (enclitic)

• mantribhiḥ: with ministers
• mantribhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Plural

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, 'together with'

Characters & Entities

• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• brahmins (vipra)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through disciplined self-restraint; brahmacarya is portrayed as a respected, socially affirmed ethical practice.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration highlights Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s renowned ascetic discipline, preparing the ground for his later role in royal rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (saṃyama) and purity of conduct, recognized and praised by the learned.