Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 15

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

अन्नं हि विधिवत्साधु प्रशंसन्ति द्विजर्षभा:।अहो तृप्ता: स्म भद्रं ते इति शुश्राव राघव:।।।।

Transliteration

annaṁ hi vidhivat sādhu praśaṁsanti dvijarṣabhāḥ |

aho tṛptāḥ sma bhadraṁ te iti śuśrāva rāghavaḥ ||

Translation

ବିଧିମତ୍ ସୁପାକ ଅନ୍ନ ଆସ୍ୱାଦନ କରି ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠମାନେ ତାହାକୁ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରି କହିଲେ—“ଅହୋ! ଆମେ ତୃପ୍ତ; ତୁମର ମଙ୍ଗଳ ହେଉ।” ଏହିପରି ରାଘବ (ଦଶରଥ) ଶୁଣିଲେ।

Word by Word

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म/object of 'praśaṃsanti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (अन्न) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• vidhivat: properly; as prescribed
• vidhivat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi + vat (विधि + वत्) (अव्यय)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (according to rule)

• sādhu: well; excellently
• sādhu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (साधु) (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण (adverb: well/excellently)

• praśaṃsanti: praise
• praśaṃsanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√śaṃs (प्र + शंस्)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• dvija-ṛṣabhāḥ: best of the twice-born
• dvija-ṛṣabhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of 'praśaṃsanti')
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + ṛṣabha (द्विज + ऋषभ) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: 'द्विजानां ऋषभाः' = best among twice-born); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• aho: ah!
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/हर्षसूचक-निपात (exclamation)

• tṛptāḥ: satisfied
• tṛptāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/predicate of implied 'vayam')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛpta (तृप्त) (प्रातिपदिक; √tṛp (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (for 'vayam' implied)

• sma: indeed (we were)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (past/assurance particle; often with perfect/past sense)

• bhadram: good fortune
• bhadram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/benediction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (भद्र) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; आशीर्वादार्थक प्रयोग

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/चतुर्थी-एकवचन रूप (enclitic); अत्र चतुर्थी (4th/dative) 'to you' अधिकयुक्त

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय

• śuśrāva: heard
• śuśrāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• rāghavaḥ: Rāghava (Daśaratha)
• rāghavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of 'śuśrāva')
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (राघव) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Context

While brahmins were being served with food by well-dressed men, some others wearing pendents studded with shining jewels assisted them.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (Rāghava)
• Brahmins (dvijarṣabhas)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown through correctness and sincerity in service: offerings and hospitality done “vidhivat” (properly) earn truthful blessings from the learned.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmins partake of the feast at the sacrifice and openly express satisfaction and benediction; the king hears their acclaim.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Attentive stewardship: the king ensures quality and propriety, and he values the honest approval of the righteous.