Shloka 9

Devanagari script

तं च राजा दशरथो यष्टुकाम: कृताञ्जलि:।ऋश्यशृङ्गं द्विजश्रेष्ठं वरयिष्यति धर्मवित्।। 1.11.8।। यज्ञार्थं प्रसवार्थं च स्वर्गार्थं च नरेश्वर:।लभते च स तं कामं द्विजमुख्याद्विशांपति:।।1.11.9।।

Transliteration

yajñārthaṃ prasavārthaṃ ca svargārthaṃ ca nareśvaraḥ, labhate ca sa taṃ kāmaṃ dvijamukhyād viśāṃpatiḥ.

Translation

யாகத்திற்காகவும், சந்தானப் பெறுதற்காகவும், சுவர்க்கப் பெறுதற்காகவும் மனிதரின் அரசன்—பிரஜைகளின் தலைவர்—அந்தப் பிராமணச் சிறந்தவரால் தன் விருப்பப் பயனை அடைவான்।

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to rājā

• yaṣṭu-kāmaḥ: desirous of performing a sacrifice
• yaṣṭu-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaṣṭu (यज् धातोः तुमुनन्त) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tumun-tatpuruṣa ‘desirous to sacrifice’

• kṛta-añjaliḥ: with folded palms
• kṛta-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having made folded hands’

• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvijaśreṣṭham: best of Brahmins
• dvijaśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘best among twice-born’

• varayiṣyati: will choose/select
• varayiṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Puruṣa: Prathama (प्रथम), Vachana: Eka (एकवचन)

• dharmavit: knower of dharma
• dharmavit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘knower of dharma’

Context

King Dasaratha, lord of the people, and knower of dharma and truth, desirous of performing the sacrifice would ask Rsyasringa, with folded palms for granting a boon to perform a sacrifice in order to obtain children and to attain heaven. The king will get those desires fulfilled through that chief brahmin.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• yajña
• svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

The verse frames desired outcomes as properly pursued through dharmic instruments—right ritual, right officiant, and lawful intent—linking means and ends.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration states the purposes of Daśaratha’s sacrifice and affirms that his aims will be fulfilled through Ṛśyaśṛṅga.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s alignment of personal desire with dharma—seeking progeny within the sanctioned moral-religious order.