Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 14

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

सर्वे परिसृता देशा याज्ञीयं न लभे पशुम्।।।।दातुमर्हसि मूल्येन सुतमेकमितो मम।4

Transliteration

sarve parisṛtā deśā yājñīyaṃ na labhe paśum | dātum arhasi mūlyena sutam ekam ito mama ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าเที่ยวเสาะไปทั่วทุกแคว้นแล้ว แต่ยังไม่พบสัตว์บูชายัญที่เหมาะแก่ยัญพิธีเลย เพราะฉะนั้น ขอท่านโปรดประทานบุตรหนึ่งคนจากบุตรของท่านแก่ข้าพเจ้า โดยรับค่าตอบแทนเถิด

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• उक्तः: being addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been spoken to/addressed’ (of ṛcīka)

• महातेजाः: the great-radiant one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of ṛcīka here

• ऋचीकः: Ṛcīka
• ऋचीकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋचीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said’

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of abravīt

• न: not
• न: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठम्: the eldest (son)
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of vikrīṇīyām (elliptic ‘son’)

• नरश्रेष्ठ: O best of men
• नरश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘नराणां श्रेष्ठः’)

• विक्रीणीयाम्: would sell
• विक्रीणीयाम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्री (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; negative with na = ‘I would not sell’

• कथञ्चन: in any way
• कथञ्चन: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सर्वथा/कदाचित्-निषेधसह (in any way/at all)

Context

I have roamed all countries but could not final the sacrificial animal. Should'nt you spare one of your sons for a price"?

Characters & Entities

• King Ambarīṣa
• Ṛcīka
• yajña (implied)
• paśu (sacrificial animal)

FAQs

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

Dharma involves both ends and means: the king’s stated goal is ritual completion, but the request tests whether desire to finish a rite can justify morally troubling methods.

What is the narrative situation?

Ambarīṣa explains his failed search for a sacrificial animal and renews his request for one of Ṛcīka’s sons in exchange for payment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Persistence in duty, alongside the emerging need for ethical discrimination about what may be asked of others.