Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 34

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha

Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

सर्वे भवन्तस्सौम्याश्च सर्वे सुचरितव्रता:।पत्नीभिस्सन्तु काकुत्स्था माभूत्कालस्य पर्यय:।।।।

Transliteration

sarve bhavantas saumyāś ca sarve sucaritavratāḥ | patnībhiḥ santu kākutsthā mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ ||

Translation

Kayong lahat ay maamo, at kayong lahat ay matatag sa mabuting asal at mga panata. Magsama kayo ng inyong mga asawa, O mga Kakutstha; nawa’y huwag magkaroon ng pagkaantala ng panahon.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying ‘भवन्तः/काकुत्स्थाः’

• भवन्तः: you all
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; honorific pronoun ‘you (all)’

• सौम्याः: gentle, gracious
• सौम्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate adjective

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; reiterative emphasis

• सुचरितव्रताः: of good conduct and vows
• सुचरितव्रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-चरित-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; सु + चरित (कृदन्त) + व्रत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विशेषण-समासः) ‘सुचरितं व्रतं येषाम्/येषां’ used adjectivally

• पत्नीभिः: with (your) wives
• पत्नीभिः: Sahakāraka (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सहार्थे (instrumental of accompaniment)

• सन्तु: may (they) be
• सन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘let them be’

• काकुत्स्थाः: O Kakutsthas (Rāma and brothers)
• काकुत्स्थाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकुत्स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा (vocative sense) addressing the Kakutsthas

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (prohibitive particle) used with aorist/imperative

• भूत्: happen
• भूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; prohibitive with ‘मा’ = ‘let it not happen’

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive relation

• पर्ययः: delay/turning (of time)
• पर्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; subject of ‘भूत्’

Context

O Descendants of Kakustha (Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna)! you all are gentle. You possess sound character. You are true to your vows. Live with your wives. Let there be no delay".

Characters & Entities

• Janaka

FAQs

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

It affirms gṛhastha-dharma: living with one’s spouse in harmony, guided by gentle conduct and faithful vows, and completing righteous rites without negligence or procrastination.

What is the narrative situation?

After assigning the brides, Janaka blesses and exhorts the four princes to proceed with married life according to dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Saumyatā (gentleness) and vrata-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in vows), virtues expected of ideal princes and householders.