Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 1

पञ्चदशः सर्गः — देवकृत-प्रार्थना, रावणवधोपायः, विष्णोः मानुषावतारनियोजनम्

Sarga 15: The Devas’ Petition, the Means to Slay Ravana, and Vishnu’s Commission to Incarnate as Man

Devanagari script

मेथावी तु ततो ध्यात्वा स किञ्चिदिदमुत्तरम्।लब्धसंज्ञस्ततस्तं तु वेदज्ञो नृपमब्रवीत्।।1.15.1।।

Transliteration

methāvī tu tato dhyātvā sa kiñcid idam uttaram | labdha-saṃjñas tatas taṃ tu veda-jño nṛpam abravīt ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, vị hiền trí thông đạt Veda, sau khi trầm tư giây lát và tâm trí trở lại sáng suốt, liền thưa với đức vua lời đáp này.

Word by Word

• methāvī: the wise one
• methāvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: methāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘wise/intelligent one’

• tu: indeed
• tu: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb ‘then’

• dhyātvā: having pondered
• dhyātvā: Kriyā (क्रिया) (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (ध्यै धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) ‘having pondered’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to methāvī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kiñcit: a little (while)
• kiñcit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃ + cit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverbial accusative (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग) ‘for a little (while)’

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म) (object of abravīt: ‘this’ speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttaram: an answer
• uttaram: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘answer/response’ (in apposition to idam)

• labdhasaṃjñaḥ: having recollected
• labdhasaṃjñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिके; PPP + noun)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘having regained consciousness/recollection’ (qualifies saḥ)

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb ‘thereafter’

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म) (object of speech: ‘to him’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: indeed
• tu: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasis

• vedajñaḥ: knower of the Vedas
• vedajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + jña (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘knower of the Vedas’ (qualifies saḥ)

• nṛpam: the king
• nṛpam: Karma (कर्म) (addressee/object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada — ‘said’

Context

Rsyasringa, a highly intellectual and knowledgeable one in the Vedas, pondered for a while, revived his memory and said to the king.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• R̥śyaśr̥ṅga (implied by context as the veda-jña methāvī)
• Veda

FAQs

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

Dharma values thoughtful speech: a teacher-counselor reflects, regains composure, and then offers a considered answer rather than impulsive words.

What is the narrative situation?

A learned sage (contextually R̥śyaśr̥ṅga) prepares to advise King Daśaratha, pausing to think before responding.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Wisdom expressed as deliberation (vicāra) and clarity in counsel.