Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 15

एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Departure to Videha and Marriage Arrangements

Devanagari script

धर्मिष्ठं च यशस्यं च वचनं सत्यवादिन:।।।।श्रुत्वा विदेहाधिपति: परं विस्मयमागत:।।

Transliteration

dharmiṣṭhaṁ ca yaśasyaṁ ca vacanaṁ satyavādinaḥ |

śrutvā videhādhipatiḥ paraṁ vismayam āgataḥ || 1.69.15 ||

Translation

सत्यवादिनो धर्मिष्ठं यशस्यं च वचनं श्रुत्वा विदेहाधिपतिः परं विस्मयमागतः।

Word by Word

• dharmiṣṭham: most righteous
• dharmiṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘vacanam’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction

• yaśasyam: fame-bringing
• yaśasyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘vacanam’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction

• vacanam: statement/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• satyavādinaḥ: of the truth-speaking (king)
• satyavādinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of the truth-speaker’

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund)

• videhādhipatiḥ: the lord of Videha (Janaka)
• videhādhipatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: videha + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• param: great
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘vismayam’

• vismayam: astonishment
• vismayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vismaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āgataḥ: attained/was filled with
• āgataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate ‘having come to/attained’

Context

Janaka was filled with extreme admiration to hear one who was truthful, righteous and famous (this Dasaratha).

Characters & Entities

• Janaka (Videhādhipati)
• Daśaratha (satyavādin)

FAQs

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

Satya as the root of dharma and honor: truthful speech that aligns with righteousness naturally generates esteem and lasting fame.

What is the narrative situation?

After Daśaratha agrees to proceed according to Janaka’s dharmic direction, Janaka reacts with admiration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s satya and dharma-niṣṭhā (commitment to truth and righteousness), recognized even by another great king.