Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 16

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

सर्वदाभिगतस्सद्भिस्समुद्र इव सिन्धुभिः ।आर्यस्सर्वसमश्चैव सदैकप्रियदर्शनः ।।।।

Transliteration

sarvadābhigataḥ sadbhiḥ samudra iva sindhubhiḥ |

āryaḥ sarvasamaś caiva sadaikapriyadarśanaḥ ||1.1.16||

Translation

ସଦ୍‌ଜନମାନେ ସର୍ବଦା ଯାହାଙ୍କୁ ସହଜରେ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରିପାରନ୍ତି—ନଦୀମାନେ ଯେପରି ସମୁଦ୍ରକୁ ଆସନ୍ତି—ସେ ତେଣୁ ସଦା ଅଭିଗମ୍ୟ ଥିଲେ; ସେ ଆର୍ୟ, ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସମଭାବୀ ଏବଂ ସଦା ପ୍ରିୟ-ପ୍ରସନ୍ନ ଦର୍ଶନବାନ୍ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kāla (काल) — temporal adjunct
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अभिगतः: approachable; accessible
• अभिगतः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + √गम् (धातु) → अभिगत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): ‘approached/accessible’

• सद्भिः: by good people
• सद्भिः: Karana (करण) / Sahakari (सहकारी) — by/with good people
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘good people’

• समुद्रः: the ocean
• समुद्रः: Upamāna (उपमान) — in simile
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा) — comparative marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• सिन्धुभिः: by rivers
• सिन्धुभिः: Karana (करण) — by/with (rivers filling the ocean)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘rivers’

• आर्यः: noble; virtuous
• आर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-समः: impartial to all
• सर्व-समः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सम (प्रातिपदिक); सम (head)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वेषु समः’ (equal towards all)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• एक-प्रिय-दर्शनः: of ever-pleasing appearance
• एक-प्रिय-दर्शनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + प्रिय + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक); दर्शन (head)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘एकं प्रियं दर्शनं यस्य’ (having ever-pleasing appearance)

Context

He has performed the duties of a king and protected his subjects. knowledgeable in the true nature of the Vedas he is accomplished in military science (he is a great archer).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Nārada
• Vālmīki

FAQs

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

Righteous authority is accessible and impartial: dharma in leadership includes openness to the virtuous and equal regard, expressed through calm, pleasing conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Nārada concludes this segment of Rāma’s characterization by highlighting his accessibility, nobility, and even-minded demeanor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Samatā (equanimity) and saulabhya (approachability), presenting an ethical ideal of power without arrogance.