Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 12, Shloka 10

द्वादशः सर्गः — Aśvamedha-saṅkalpa

Daśaratha resolves on the Horse Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ततस्साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणा: प्रत्यपूजयन्।वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युतम्।।।।

Transliteration

tatas sādhv iti tad vākyaṃ brāhmaṇāḥ pratyapūjayan, vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ sarve pārthivasya mukhāc cyutam.

Translation

แล้วพราหมณ์ทั้งปวงมีวสิษฐะเป็นประมุข ต่างสรรเสริญพระดำรัสที่ออกจากพระโอษฐ์แห่งพระมหากษัตริย์ว่า “กล่าวได้งามยิ่ง”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततः अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय) of sequence

• sādhu: well said/good
• sādhu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (साधु अव्यय/शब्द)
• Form: Interjection/approving particle (प्रशंसानिपात)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उद्धरणबोधक अव्यय)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative qualifying 'vākyaṃ'

• vākyaṃ: statement/words
• vākyaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (ब्राह्मण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• pratyapūjayan: praised/paid homage to
• pratyapūjayan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, Imperfect/Past), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन); with prefix prati- (प्रति)

• vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ: those headed by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha + pramukha (वसिष्ठ + प्रमुख, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'Vasiṣṭha as chief'; Masculine, Nominative Plural

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural; qualifying 'brāhmaṇāḥ/vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ'

• pārthivasya: of the king
• pārthivasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (पार्थिव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• mukhāt: from (his) mouth
• mukhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (मुख प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (पञ्चमी) Singular

• cyutam: uttered/spoken
• cyutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cyuta (च्युत प्रातिपदिक; √cyu)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative Singular; qualifying 'vākyaṃ'

Context

When they heard these words from the king's month, those brahmins heades by Vasishta extolled the king's decision exclaiming, "well-said":

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Vasiṣṭha
• brāhmaṇas

FAQs

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

Dharma is validated through wise counsel: the king’s plan is affirmed by authoritative brāhmaṇas, showing governance guided by ethical-religious advisors.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha’s proposal is met with approval by Vasiṣṭha and the assembled brāhmaṇas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and respect for counsel—Daśaratha’s words earn praise because they align with dharma recognized by sages.