Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 16

जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम्

Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila

Devanagari script

कस्य चित्त्वथकालस्य साङ्काश्यादगमत्पुरात्।सुधन्वा वीर्यवान्राजा मिथिलामवरोधक:।।।।

Transliteration

kasya cit tv atha kālasya sāṅkāśyād agamat purāt |

sudhanvā vīryavān rājā mithilām avarodhakaḥ ||

Translation

پھر کچھ عرصہ گزرنے پر سाङکاشیہ کے شہر سے پرتابی اور زورآور راجا سُدھنوا روانہ ہوا، اور اس کا ارادہ تھا کہ متھلا کا محاصرہ کرے۔

Word by Word

• kasya: of which/whose
• kasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• cit: some/any (indefinite marker)
• cit: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cit (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), enclitic; with kim → indefinite sense

• tu: then/indeed/but
• tu: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/continuative

• atha: thereafter
• atha: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (निपात) indicating sequence

• kālasya: of time; after a time
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sāṅkāśyāt: from Sāṅkāśyā
• sāṅkāśyāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāṅkāśyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (city-name), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• agamat: went
• agamat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• purāt: from the city
• purāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; used with sāṅkāśyāt (city)

• sudhanvā: Sudhanvā
• sudhanvā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudhanvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (proper noun), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vīryavān: powerful
• vīryavān: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective to rājā

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mithilām: to Mithilā
• mithilām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (city-name), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• avarodhakaḥ: as a besieger; intending to besiege
• avarodhakaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avarodhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agent-noun from ava-√rudh/√rudh sense 'to besiege/obstruct'; predicate/epithet of rājā

Context

A little later a powerful king named Sudhanva from the city of Sankasya beseiged Mithila.

Characters & Entities

• Sudhanvā
• Sāṅkāśyā (Sankasya)
• Mithilā

FAQs

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

The verse sets up the dharmic test of kingship: when aggression arises, a ruler must protect his realm and subjects without abandoning righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka introduces the external threat—Sudhanvā marching from Sāṅkāśyā to besiege Mithilā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness for protective kingship (kṣatra-dharma) in the face of invasion.