Valmiki Ramayana 1.13.20-21: Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shlokas 20-21
हयमेध
यज्ञोपक्रमः · Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations
Spoken by King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā (Daśaratha’s court)Places named: MithilāSummoning Janaka from Mithilā to Ayodhyā for royal-sacrificial/marriage proceedings
मिथिलाधिपतिं शूरं जनकं सत्यविक्रमम् ।
निष्ठितं सर्वशास्त्रेषु तथा वेदेषु निष्ठितम् ॥२०॥
तमानय महाभागं स्वयमेव सुसत्कृतम् ।
पूर्वसम्बन्धिनं ज्ञात्वा ततः पूर्वं ब्रवीमि ते ॥२१॥
mithilādhipatiṃ śūraṃ janakaṃ satya-vikramam |
niṣṭhitaṃ sarva-śāstreṣu tathā vedeṣu niṣṭhitam ||20||
tam ānaya mahābhāgaṃ svayam eva su-satkṛtam |
pūrva-sambandhinaṃ jñātvā tataḥ pūrvaṃ bravīmi te ||21||
Sprowadź Dżanakę, bohaterskiego władcę Mithili, którego męstwo opiera się na prawdzie, biegłego we wszystkich śastrach i również wnikliwie znającego Wedy. Sprowadź tego dostojnego króla osobiście, oddając mu należną cześć; wiedząc, że jest starym sprzymierzeńcem, mówię ci to wcześniej.
Sandhi Notes
- काशीपतिम् = काशी + पतिम्
- प्रियवादिनम् = प्रिय + वादिनम्
- स्वयमेवानयस्व = स्वयम् + एव + आनयस्व
You may personally go and bring with due honour king Janaka who is the distinguished king of Mithila, a warrior whose truth is his strength proficient in all scriptures and the Vedas. Since he is an old ally, I am telling you in advance.
The teaching
Honor learned and righteous allies; diplomacy grounded in satya and proper satkāra strengthens dharmic aims.
- Ethical theme
- Rājadharma / atithi-satkāra
For your practice
Cultivates reverence for Veda-śāstra learning and truthful valor; encourages respectful speech and honoring the worthy.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Diplomatic, reverent, purposeful
Themes
- Dharma
- Satya
- Rājanīti (diplomacy)
- Honor (satkāra)
- Itihasa
Janaka as archetype of karma-yoga and jñāna integrated with kingship (videha-janaka motif).
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad: dialogues of King Janaka with Yājñavalkya; ideal of the jñānī-rājā.
- Dasharatha and Janaka
- Allied kings; prospective in-law alliance (marriage diplomacy) (respectful)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.66ṇa (Janaka’s self-praise of lineage and dharma; Sītā-svayaṃvara context); Mahābhārata Śānti/Anuśāsana: rājadharma passages praising satya and śāstra-niṣṭhā
Vedic ideal of satya as ṛta-support (satya as dharma’s base)
Bālakāṇḍa: Daśaratha’s yajña preparations and alliance-building preceding the princes’s future marriages
Anuṣṭubh (predominant śloka meter)
Commanding
Madhyama-gati, clear udātta emphasis on epithets ("Mithilādhipatim", "satyavikramam")
FAQs
Dharma is respectful state conduct: an ally and learned king is to be invited with proper honor, reflecting satya (trustworthiness) and maryādā (protocol).
Daśaratha orders that King Janaka of Mithilā be invited personally and honored, anticipating cooperation based on prior alliance.
Janaka’s satya-rooted valor and learning, and Daśaratha’s diplomatic propriety—honoring relationships and knowledge.
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