Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 5

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

तास्समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन्सदसि देवता:।अब्रुवन् लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं महत्।।1.15.5।।

Transliteration

tāḥ sametya yathānyāyaṃ tasmin sadasi devatāḥ |

abruvan lokakartāraṃ brahmāṇaṃ vacanaṃ mahat ||1.15.5||

Translation

Các thần linh hội tụ trong hội đường ấy đúng theo phép tắc, liền dâng lời thỉnh cầu trọng đại lên Brahmā, đấng tạo hóa của muôn thế giới.

Word by Word

• tāḥ: those (female/collective: the deities)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana; demonstrative pronoun

• sametya: having assembled
• sametya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-i (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), absolutive (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), ‘having assembled/come together’

• yathā-nyāyam: as is proper
• yathā-nyāyam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana in form; meaning ‘according to propriety/custom’

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Saptamī-vibhakti (सप्तमी, locative), Eka-vacana

• sadasi: in the assembly
• sadasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī-vibhakti, Eka-vacana

• devatāḥ: the deities
• devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana

• abruvan: said
• abruvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahu-vacana

• loka-kartāram: the creator of the worlds
• loka-kartāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: lokānāṃ kartā (creator of worlds)

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; proper noun Brahmā

• vacanam: words/speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; internal object of ‘said’

• mahat: great/important
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; agrees with vacanam

Context

All devatas assembled there as per tradition and thus addressed Lord Brahma the creator of the worlds:

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahma

FAQs

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

When confronted by disorder, one approaches legitimate authority through proper, respectful procedure—dharma works through rightful counsel and governance.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods convene and formally present their grave concern to Brahmā about the crisis caused by Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and institutional respect—seeking resolution through the creator and lawful deliberation rather than impulsive retaliation.