Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 8, Shloka 8

अष्टमः सर्गः

Daśaratha Resolves on the Aśvamedha (Horse-Sacrifice) for Progeny

Devanagari script

मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थन्नास्ति वै सुखम्।तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम।।।।

Transliteration

mama lālapyamānasya putrārthaṃ nāsti vai sukham |

tad-arthaṃ hayamedhena yakṣyāmīti matir mama ||

Translation

«Eu, aflito pelo anseio de um filho, não encontro verdadeira felicidade. Por isso decidi: realizarei o sacrifício do Aśvamedha para esse fim.»

Word by Word

• मम: of me/for me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• लालप्यमानस्य: of me, being afflicted (lamenting)
• लालप्यमानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लालप्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्/मान-प्रत्ययान्त (present passive participle sense), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) — 'of (me) being tormented/afflicted'

• पुत्रार्थम्: for the sake of sons
• पुत्रार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया (accusative of purpose): 'for the sake of sons'

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle: 'indeed')

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदर्थम्: for that reason
• तदर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial): तदर्थम् = 'for that purpose/therefore'

• हयमेधेन: by the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• हयमेधेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: हयानां मेधः (अश्वमेधः)

• यक्ष्यामि: I shall sacrifice/perform (a rite)
• यक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle: 'thus')

• मतिः: intention/resolve
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Having made up his mind to perform the sacrifice, that sagacious and pious king, in consultation with his wise ministers, issued the following command to Sumantra, the best of ministers "Bring all my spritual preceptors along with family priests."

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Aśvamedha (hayamedha)

FAQs

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

Personal desire is channeled through dharmic means: Daśaratha seeks progeny not by coercion or caprice, but by a sanctioned Vedic rite under priestly guidance.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha discloses to the assembled sages his sorrow at being without a son and his intention to perform the Aśvamedha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness and clarity of purpose—he openly states his inner suffering and makes a firm, responsible resolve.