Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 3

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Devanagari script

भ्राता मम महातेजा यवीयानतिधार्मिक:।कुशध्वज इति ख्यात: पुरीमध्यवसच्छुभाम्।।1.70.2।।वार्याफलकपर्यन्तां पिबन्निक्षुमतीं नदीम्।साङ्काश्यां पुण्यसङ्काशां विमानमिव पुष्पकम्।।1.70.3।।

Transliteration

bhrātā mama mahātejā yavīyān atidhārmikaḥ |

kuśadhvaja iti khyātaḥ purīm adhyavasac chubhām || 1.70.2 ||

vāry-āphalaka-paryantāṁ pibann ikṣumatīṁ nadīm |

sāṅkāśyāṁ puṇya-saṅkāśāṁ vimānam iva puṣpakam || 1.70.3 ||

Translation

Adinda beta saudaraku, Kuśadhvaja yang masyhur—bercahaya gemilang dan amat dharmika—bersemayam di kota Sāṅkāśyā yang bertuah, tampak suci bagaikan vimāna Puṣpaka; kota itu terletak di tebing Sungai Ikṣumatī, yang airnya menjadi sempadan kota.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Prathamā, Ekavacana

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्) from √dṛś (to see)

• icchāmi: desire
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present), Uttama puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada; √iṣ (to desire)

• yajñagoptā: protector of the sacrifice
• yajñagoptā: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña-goptṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate nominative of saḥ; समास: तत्पुरुष (yajñasya goptā)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• me: by me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive, 6th), Ekavacana

• mataḥ: is considered
• mataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (मन् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √man (to think/consider); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative: 'is considered'

• prītim: joy/pleasure
• prītim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (also)

• mahātejāḥ: greatly radiant
• mahātejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषण of saḥ

• imām: this
• imām: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with prītim

• bhoktā: will enjoy
• bhoktā: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: Agent noun/participle (तृ/तार् sense; here future/agentive 'one who will enjoy'); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicative with saḥ

• mayā: with me
• mayā: Sahakārī (सहकारी/Companion-instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha-dyotaka (सहार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; postposition meaning 'with' ( सह + instrumental)

Context

Having said this amidst the best of men and the most distinguished among kings, Dasaratha remained silent. Then Vasishta, the venerable sage, wellversed in speech spoke to the Lord of Videhas (Janaka) in the midst of priests.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Kuśadhvaja
• Sāṅkāśyā
• Puṣpaka (vimāna)

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as the moral qualification of rulership: Kuśadhvaja’s righteousness and brilliance legitimize his governance and the sanctity associated with his realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka introduces his younger brother Kuśadhvaja and describes his residence and kingdom, situating the Videhan family’s standing in the wider political-sacred landscape.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kuśadhvaja’s atidhārmikatā (exceptional righteousness), presented as an ideal royal trait.