Valmiki Ramayana 2.111.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 3

अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

Sarga 111: Counsel on Gurus, Parental Debt, and Bharata’s Protest

Devanagari script

पिता ह्येवं जनयति पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ।प्रज्ञां ददाति चाचार्यस्तस्मात्स गुरुरुच्यते।।।।

Transliteration

pitā hy evaṃ janayati puruṣaṃ puruṣarṣabha |prajñāṃ dadāti cācāryas tasmāt sa gurur ucyate ||

Translation

اے مردوں کے سردار! باپ اسی طرح انسان کو جنم دیتا ہے؛ مگر آچاریہ ہی اسے پرَجنا (حکمت) عطا کرتا ہے، اسی لیے وہ ‘گرو’ کہلاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• पिता: father
• पिता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कारण/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• जनयति: begets, brings forth
• जनयति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद, णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: causes to be born/begets)

• पुरुषम्: a man/person
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरुषर्षभ: O bull among men
• पुरुषर्षभ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (best among men)

• प्रज्ञाम्: wisdom
• प्रज्ञाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ददाति: gives
• ददाति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• आचार्यः: teacher
• आचार्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु (Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्यय (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• सः: he (that teacher)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरुः: guru
• गुरुः: प्रेडिकेट-नाम (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

Context

O best of men, the father brings forth a son. The teacher imparts him wisdom.Therefore, the teacher is considered superior.

Characters & Entities

• ācārya (teacher/guru)

FAQs

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

Reverence for wisdom as a dharmic authority: the teacher is ‘guru’ because he shapes moral discernment (prajñā), not merely biological life.

What is the narrative situation?

A didactic reflection occurs amid counsel and deliberation, defining sources of rightful authority (parental and pedagogical).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and respect—dharma requires honoring those who cultivate wisdom and right judgment.