Shloka 19

यज्ञवाटप्रवेशः जनक-विश्वामित्रसंवादश्च

Arrival at the Sacrificial Ground and Janaka’s Reception

Devanagari script

इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ।।1.50.17।।गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ।पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ।।1.50.18।।अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ।यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ।।1.50.19।।कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने।

Transliteration

aśvināv iva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau |

yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokād ivāmarau ||

kathaṃ padbhyām iha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune |

Translation

ด้วยรูปโฉมเขางามดุจอัศวินเทพ ยืนอยู่ ณ ธรณีแห่งวัยหนุ่ม—ประหนึ่งอมรผู้ลงมาจากเทวโลกตามพระประสงค์เอง โอ้มุนี เขามาถึงที่นี่ด้วยเท้าได้อย่างไร มาด้วยเหตุใด และเป็นบุตรของผู้ใดเล่า

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; (of him)

• तत्-वचनम्: those words
• तत्-वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (tad eva vacanam)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• जनकस्य: of Janaka
• जनकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying जनकस्य)

• न्यवेदयन्: they informed/presented
• न्यवेदयन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vid (विद् धातु) with prefix ni- + causative? actually ni-√vid in sense 'to inform' (आत्मने/परस्मै)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम (they informed/presented)

• महात्मानौ: the two great-souled
• महात्मानौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पुत्रौ)

• पुत्रौ: two sons
• पुत्रौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• दशरथस्य: of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (those two)

Context

"O Sage (Viswamitra), be blessed. Who are these two young men with the prowess of the celestials the gait of an elephant or a lion? They resemble a tiger or a bull in courage. They have large eyes like lotuspetals. They are armed with scimitars bows and quivers. With their approaching youth, they resemble the Aswinikumaras in beauty. They look like gods who have descended on earth from heaven out of their free will. Whose sons are they? How did they come here on foot? And for what purpose?

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Aśvinau (Aśvinīkumāras)
• Devaloka

FAQs

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

Dharma of inquiry and accountability: admiration should not replace verification; Janaka seeks truthful identity and intent to respond appropriately as a host-king.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka observes Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in his court/assembly and questions Viśvāmitra about their origins, arrival, and purpose.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s discernment (viveka) and commitment to truth (satya) alongside reverence for spiritual authority.