Valmiki Ramayana 1.73.40 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 40

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

ईदृशे वर्तमाने तु तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिते।त्रिरग्निं ते परिक्रम्य ऊहुर्भार्यां महौजस:।।।।

Transliteration

īdṛśe vartamāne tu tūryodghuṣṭanināditē | trir agniṃ te parikramya ūhur bhāryāṃ mahaujasaḥ ||

Translation

விழா தொடர்ந்தபோது வாத்தியங்களின் முழக்கம் எங்கும் ஒலித்தது; அப்போது அந்த மாபெரும் தேஜஸ்விகள் தம் தம் மணப்பெண்களுடன் புனித அக்னியை மூன்று முறை வலம் வந்து திருமணச் சடங்கை நிறைவு செய்தனர்.

Word by Word

• ईदृशे: in such (a state)
• ईदृशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (in such a situation)

• वर्तमाने: while (this was) going on
• वर्तमाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त) → वर्तमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्, present participle, ātmanepada sense); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle

• तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिते: amid resounding music of wind-instruments
• तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तूर्य + उद्घुष्ट + निनादित (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तूर्यैः उद्घुष्टं निनादितं यस्मिन्/यत्र); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (describing the occasion)

• त्रिः: thrice
• त्रिः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• अग्निम्: the fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• ते: they (those brothers)
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• परिक्रम्य: having gone around
• परिक्रम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having circumambulated’

• ऊहुः: took (as wives)/married
• ऊहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; 3rd person plural

• भार्याम्: (their) bride/wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (collective: each took his wife)

• महौजसः: of great splendour/energy
• महौजसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (महद् ओजः यस्य ते); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (qualifying te)

Context

While the celebration resounded witht he wind-instruments the mighty brothers went round the fire three times with their consorts and tied their nuptial knot.

Characters & Entities

• sacred fire (agni)

FAQs

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

It highlights gṛhastha-dharma: marriage is completed through a solemn, public, and sacred rite centered on Agni, emphasizing responsibility, social order, and sanctity of commitment.

What is the narrative situation?

At Mithilā, during the wedding celebrations, the princes complete the marriage ritual by circumambulating the sacred fire three times with their brides.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (propriety and adherence to ordained rites): the princes conform to dharmic procedure rather than treating marriage as a private preference alone.