Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 11, Shloka 8

ऋष्यशृङ्गानयनम् — Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā

Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 11

Devanagari script

तं च राजा दशरथो यष्टुकाम: कृताञ्जलि:।ऋश्यशृङ्गं द्विजश्रेष्ठं वरयिष्यति धर्मवित्।। 1.11.8।। यज्ञार्थं प्रसवार्थं च स्वर्गार्थं च नरेश्वर:।लभते च स तं कामं द्विजमुख्याद्विशांपति:।।1.11.9।।

Transliteration

taṃ ca rājā daśaratho yaṣṭukāmaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ, ṛśyaśṛṅgaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ varayiṣyati dharmavit.

Translation

Vua Daśaratha, khát nguyện cử hành tế lễ, chắp tay cung kính; bậc thông đạt Chánh pháp (dharma) ấy sẽ trịnh trọng thỉnh cầu Ṛśyaśṛṅga, vị tối thượng trong hàng Bà-la-môn.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine Accusative Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular

• yaṣṭukāmaḥ: desirous to sacrifice
• yaṣṭukāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaṣṭu-kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Masculine Nominative Singular; compound: yaṣṭu (infinitive of √yaj, यष्टुम्) + kāma (यष्टुं कामः)

• kṛtāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• kṛtāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta-añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Masculine Nominative Singular; compound: kṛta + añjali (कृतः अञ्जलिः येन)

• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: R̥śyaśr̥ṅga
• ṛśyaśṛṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Accusative Singular

• dvijaśreṣṭham: best of the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• dvijaśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijaśreṣṭha (प्रatipadika)
• Form: Masculine Accusative Singular; compound: dvija + śreṣṭha (द्विजेषु श्रेष्ठः)

• varayiṣyati: will choose, will request
• varayiṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Causative/factitive not intended here; standard future of denominative? In epic usage: from √vṛ (वृ, 'to choose'); Lakāra: Lṛṭ (future); Parasmaipada; 3rd person Singular

• dharmavit: knower of dharma
• dharmavit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharmavid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective; Masculine Nominative Singular; compound: dharma + vid (धर्मं वेत्ति)

• yajñārtham: for the sacrifice
• yajñārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative Singular; compound: yajña + artha (यज्ञस्य अर्थः) used as purpose-accusative

• prasavārtham: for begetting offspring
• prasavārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasava-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative Singular; compound: prasava + artha (प्रसवस्य अर्थः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• svargārtham: for heaven
• svargārtham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga-artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter Accusative Singular; compound: svarga + artha (स्वर्गस्य अर्थः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• nareśvaraḥ: lord of men
• nareśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nareśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; compound: nara + īśvara (नराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Verb; Dhātu: √labh (लभ्); Lakāra: Laṭ (present); Ātmanepada; 3rd person Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally; Masculine Accusative Singular; qualifying kāmaṃ

• kāmam: desire, wish
• kāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Accusative Singular

• dvijamukhyāt: from the foremost brāhmaṇa
• dvijamukhyāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijamukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Ablative (पञ्चमी) Singular; compound: dvija + mukhya (द्विजेषु मुख्यः)

• viśāṃpatiḥ: lord of the people
• viśāṃpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāṃpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine Nominative Singular; compound: viśām + pati (विशां पतिः)

Context

King Dasaratha, lord of the people, and knower of dharma and truth, desirous of performing the sacrifice would ask Rsyasringa, with folded palms for granting a boon to perform a sacrifice in order to obtain children and to attain heaven. The king will get those desires fulfilled through that chief brahmin.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• dvija (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as humility before spiritual merit: even a sovereign approaches a worthy sage-priest with respect and proper protocol.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha prepares to petition Ṛśyaśṛṅga to officiate the royal sacrifice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and self-discipline—Daśaratha’s respectful conduct (kṛtāñjali) despite royal power.