Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 15

विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना

Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection

Devanagari script

यदि ते धर्मलाभं च यशश्च परमं भुवि।।।।स्थितमिच्छसि राजेन्द्र रामं मे दातुमर्हसि।

Transliteration

yadi te dharma-lābhaṃ ca yaśaś ca paramaṃ bhuvi |

sthitam icchasi rājendra rāmaṃ me dātum arhasi ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc vương trung vương, nếu ngài mong cầu lợi ích của Dharma và danh tiếng tối thượng, bền vững trên đời, thì thật hợp lẽ khi ngài giao Rāma cho ta.

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (निपात), 'if'

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharma-lābham: gain of righteousness
• dharma-lābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'dharma-sya lābhaḥ' (gain of dharma)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); form identical to nominative

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with yaśaḥ

• bhuvi: on earth / in the world
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvi/bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sthitam: lasting / established
• sthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying dharmalābham and yaśaḥ (as desired as 'established/lasting')

• icchasi: you desire
• icchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājendra: O king of kings
• rājendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'rājñām indraḥ' (Indra among kings)

• rāmam: Rama
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• me: to me
• me: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to give'

• arhasi: you ought / are fit
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (अर्ह् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

Context

O Kakustha! if your counsellors and all other sages headed by Vasishta give their consent, then only you may relieve Rama.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Choosing dharma yields lasting honor: a ruler’s reputation is ethically meaningful when it arises from supporting righteous causes (protecting yajña and sages).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra frames the king’s decision as a dharmic opportunity—sending Rāma will secure both righteousness and enduring renown.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s kingly duty (rāja-dharma): prioritizing protection of sacred order over private reluctance.