Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 70, Shloka 2

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

Meu irmão mais novo, o afamado Kuśadhvaja—brilhante e sobremodo reto no dharma—habita a auspiciosa cidade de Sāṅkāśyā, de aspecto sagrado, comparável ao carro aéreo Puṣpaka, à margem do rio Ikṣumatī, cujas águas assinalam o limite da cidade.

Word by Word

• bhrātā: brother
• bhrātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun); Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Ekavacana

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

• yavīyān: younger
• yavīyān: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; comparative degree (तर/यस् sense) 'younger'

• atidhārmikaḥ: exceedingly righteous
• atidhārmikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-dhārmika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषण; उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद (ati + dhārmika)

• kuśadhvajaḥ: Kuśadhvaja
• kuśadhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśadhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper noun; in apposition to bhrātā

• iti: thus (named)
• iti: Nipāta (निपात/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle

• khyātaḥ: was renowned
• khyātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khyā (ख्या धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from √khyā (to be known); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; used predicatively

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• adhyavasat: dwelt in
• adhyavasat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-vas (वस् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada; √vas with upasarga adhi (to dwell in)

• śubhām: auspicious
• śubhām: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with purīm

• vāryāphalakaparyantām: bounded by water and stakes/boards
• vāryāphalakaparyantām: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāri-āphalaka-paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with nadīm; समास: तत्पुरुष (paryantā = bounded; vāri + āphalaka as qualifier)

• piban: drinking
• piban: Karta (कर्ता; participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) from √pā (to drink); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with kuśadhvajaḥ

• ikṣumatīm: Ikṣumatī
• ikṣumatīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣumatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; proper name (river)

• nadīm: river
• nadīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to ikṣumatīm

• sāṅkāśyām: Sāṅkāśyā
• sāṅkāśyām: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāṅkāśyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; proper name of city; in apposition to purīm

• puṇyasaṅkāśām: having a sacred appearance
• puṇyasaṅkāśām: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya-saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with purīm/sāṅkāśyām; समास: कर्मधारय (puṇya iva saṅkāśā)

• vimānam: a celestial car
• vimānam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; upamāna (standard of comparison)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā-vācaka (comparative particle)

• puṣpakam: Puṣpaka (chariot)
• puṣpakam: Upamāna/Viśeṣya (उपमान/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpaka (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Napुंसakliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; proper noun; qualifier of vimānam (vimānam ... puṣpakam)

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.