Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 22

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

तथा काशीपतिं स्निग्धं सततं प्रियवादिनम्।वयस्यं राजसिंहस्य स्वयमेवानयस्व ह।।1.13.22।।

Transliteration

tathā kāśīpatiṃ snigdhaṃ satataṃ priyavādinam |

vayasyaṃ rājasiṃhasya svayam evānayasva ha || 1.13.22 ||

Translation

Cũng vậy, hãy đích thân thỉnh vua Kāśī đến—người luôn thắm tình và lời nói hiền hòa—bạn thân của bậc sư tử trong hàng quân vương.

Word by Word

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• lālapyamānasya: of me who is lamenting/afflicted
• lālapyamānasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lālapya (ललप्/ललप्य- धातु; शोकवाचक) (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/यमान-प्रत्यय; कर्मणि), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); ‘of (me) being lamented/afflicted’

• putra-artham: for the sake of sons
• putra-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); purpose-accusative

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Puruṣa: Prathama (प्रथम), Vachana: Eka (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tad-artham: for that reason
• tad-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; ‘for that purpose’

• haya-medhena: by the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)
• haya-medhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya (प्रातिपदिक) + medha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yakṣyāmi: I shall sacrifice/perform (a sacrifice)
• yakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Luṭ (लुट्, Periphrastic future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Puruṣa: Uttama (उत्तम), Vachana: Eka (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• matiḥ: intention/resolve
• matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

Likewise bring here the aged and very righteous king of Kekaya along with his sons. He is father-in-law to this lion among kings (Dasaratha).

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

Dharma includes sustaining righteous friendships among rulers; affectionate speech and goodwill (snigdhatā, priyavāditā) support harmony and collective sacred duties like yajña.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha continues listing allied kings to be invited for Daśaratha’s rite, naming the king of Kāśī as a close friend.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The Kāśī king’s virtue is gentle conduct—affection and pleasant speech—qualities valued in dhārmic political relations.