Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 15

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

भूतलादुत्थितां तां तु वर्धमानां ममात्मजाम्।वरयामासुरागम्य राजानो मुनिपुंगव।।1.66.15।।

Transliteration

bhūtalād utthitāṁ tāṁ tu vardhamānāṁ mamātmajām |

varayāmāsur āgamya rājāno munipuṅgava ||1.66.15||

Translation

Wahai yang terbaik antara para resi, ketika puteriku—yang bangkit dari bumi—semakin membesar, para raja pun datang meminang dirinya.

Word by Word

• bhūtalāt: from the earth
• bhūtalāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūtala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Pañcamī, Ekavacana

• utthitām: arisen
• utthitām: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: Kta, Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies tāṃ

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: particle

• vardhamānām: growing
• vardhamānām: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛdh (वृध् धातु)
• Form: Śānac (present middle participle/शानच्), Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'growing'

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ātmajām: daughter
• ātmajām: Karma (कर्म; apposition to tām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (कृदन्त, √jan)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; 'daughter'

• varayāmāsuḥ: sought (to choose as bride)
• varayāmāsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (वृ धातु, 'to choose')
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada; causative/intensive not; denominative sense 'sought in marriage'

• āgamya: having come
• āgamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive/क्त्वा), avyaya; 'having come'

• rājānaḥ: kings
• rājānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• munipuṅgava: O best of sages
• munipuṅgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; समासः—मुनीनां पुङ्गवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Context

O Worshipful one! all those monarchs sought this maiden but I did not offer my daughter saying that the 'marriage offer' could be made only through the tried and tested prowess of a suitor.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma in social life requires orderly, public, and respectful seeking of alliance—kings approach properly rather than seize or coerce.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka notes that many rulers arrived at Mithilā and proposed marriage to Sītā as she came of age.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respect for social and royal protocol in pursuing marriage.