Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 52

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

दरिद्राय द्विजायाथ हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम्।कस्मैचिद्याचमानाय ददौ राघवनन्दन:।।।।

Transliteration

daridrāya dvijāyātha hastābharaṇam uttamam | kasmaicid yācamānāya dadau rāghavanandanaḥ ||

Translation

తర్వాత రాఘవుని తండ్రి, భిక్ష కోరిన ఒక దరిద్ర బ్రాహ్మణునికి ఉత్తమమైన హస్తాభరణాన్ని దానంగా ఇచ్చాడు।

Word by Word

• daridrāya: to a poor
• daridrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daridra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies dvijāya

• dvijāya: to a brahmin
• dvijāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then
• atha: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण) ‘then/thereupon’

• hastābharaṇam: a hand-ornament (bracelet)
• hastābharaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘ornament for the hand’

• uttamam: excellent
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies hastābharaṇam

• kasmaicit: to some (one)
• kasmaicit: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (co-referential with dvijāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kas + cit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन); indefinite pronoun ‘to someone’

• yācamānāya: to one who was begging
• yācamānāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāc (याच् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine; ‘to one who was begging’

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• rāghavanandanaḥ: Rāghava’s descendant (Daśaratha)
• rāghavanandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava + nandana (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘delighter/son of the Rāghava line’ (epithet of Daśaratha)

Context

Dasaratha then gave his excellent bracelet to a poor brahmin who solicited alms.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (Rāghavanandana)

FAQs

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

Compassionate giving: dharmic charity responds to need directly, honoring the supplicant without delay or disdain.

What is the narrative situation?

During post-sacrificial generosity, Daśaratha personally gives a valuable ornament to a poor brāhmaṇa who requests alms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Empathy and readiness to give—Daśaratha’s generosity extends beyond formal distributions to individual need.