Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 20

पायसप्रादुर्भावः

The Manifestation of the Divine Payasa and the Avatara Resolution

Devanagari script

भार्याणामनुरूपाणामश्नीतेति प्रयच्छ वै।तासु त्वं प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रान्यदर्थं यजसे नृप।।।।

Transliteration

bhāryāṇām anurūpāṇām aśnīteti prayaccha vai |

tāsu tvaṃ prāpsyase putrān yadarthaṃ yajase nṛpa || 1.16.20 ||

Translation

“Hãy ban cho các hoàng hậu xứng đáng của ngài dùng ăn; nhờ các bà, ngài sẽ được những hoàng tử mà vì họ ngài đang cử hành tế lễ này, tâu Đại vương.”

Word by Word

• bhāryāṇām: of the wives / to the wives (contextual)
• bhāryāṇām: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) target group (to the wives)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana

• anurūpāṇām: suitable, worthy
• anurūpāṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of bhāryāṇām
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; adjective of bhāryāṇām

• aśnīta: let her eat / (she) should eat
• aśnīta: Kriyā within quotation
• Type: Verb
• Root: √aś (अश् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (imperative/लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; quoted speech form

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-nirdeśa (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• prayaccha: give
• prayaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yam (यम् धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (वै)

• tāsu: in them (in those wives)
• tāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता) of prāpsyase/yajase
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• prāpsyase: you will obtain
• prāpsyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (आप् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ? (actually Lṛṭ-lakāra future/लृट्), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Karma (कर्म) of prāpsyase
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• yad-artham: for which purpose
• yad-artham: Hetu/Purpose (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (यदर्थम् = yasya arthāya)

• yajase: you perform sacrifice
• yajase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present/लट्), Madhyama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

Context

"What strategies should be adopted in the matter of destruction of that evil-minded Ravana who is a thorn to the sages?".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• queens/consorts (bhāryāḥ)
• pāyasa
• sacrifice (yajña)

FAQs

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

Dharma is fulfilled through proper channels: even a divinely granted boon is to be applied according to rightful family order (through the queens), emphasizing legitimacy, responsibility, and adherence to prescribed norms.

What is the narrative situation?

The emissary instructs Daśaratha on how to use the divine pāyasa so that the sacrifice’s purpose—sons—will be realized.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to righteous instruction: the king is guided to act methodically and lawfully, showing discipline and respect for dharmic procedure.