Shloka 6

Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठो रामो5भवत्‌ तेषां रमयामास हि प्रजा: । मनोहरतया धीमान्‌ पितुर्दयनन्दन:

Transliteration

jyeṣṭho rāmo 'bhavat teṣāṃ ramayāmāsa hi prajāḥ | manoharatayā dhīmān pitur dayānandanaḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya nói: “Trong bốn hoàng tử ấy, Rāma là trưởng tử. Với dung mạo khả ái và tính tình nhu hòa, người làm muôn dân hoan hỷ—lòng ai cũng hướng về người. Hơn nữa, người còn là niềm vui của phụ vương, khiến tình thương và sự mãn nguyện của vua thêm đầy.”

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठः: eldest
• ज्येष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रामः: Rama
• रामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: was/became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• रमयामास: gladdened/caused to delight
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम्
• Form: Perfect periphrastic (Liṭ, periphrastic), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, true

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• प्रजाः: the subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• मनोहरतया: by charm/pleasantness
• मनोहरतया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोहरता
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• धीमान्: wise/intelligent
• धीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पितुः: of (his) father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• दयनन्दनः: delight-giver (to his father)
• दयनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दयनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Rāma
• the four sons
• the people/subjects (prajāḥ)
• the father (Daśaratha, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s excellence is measured not only by birth order or power but by character: wisdom, charm tempered by good conduct, and the ability to bring joy and confidence to both the subjects and one’s elders. The verse highlights the ethical ideal of leadership that pleases the people through virtue rather than fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is describing Rāma among the four royal brothers, emphasizing that Rāma, as the eldest, was beloved by the populace and also dear to his father—setting the stage for Rāma’s reputation as an exemplary prince.