Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.6: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 6

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon

Lore

Spoken by Vasistha to DasharathaSetting: Forest route/Viśvāmitra’s context (after departure from Ayodhyā, implied)Places named: इक्ष्वाकुकुलम्Instruction during mission to protect yajña

Devanagari script

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः ।

धृतिमान् सुव्रतः श्रीमान्नधर्मं हातुमर्हसि ॥६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.6

Transliteration

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātaḥ sākṣād dharma ivāparaḥ |

dhṛtimān suvrataḥ śrīmān na dharmaṃ hātum arhasi ||6||

Translation

Sinh trong dòng dõi Ikṣvāku, ngươi như chính Pháp (Dharma) hiện thân lần nữa—kiên định, giữ gìn thệ nguyện cao quý, rạng ngời vinh quang. Ngươi không được từ bỏ chính đạo và bổn phận đã thệ.

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Word by Word

• इक्ष्वाकूणाम्: of the Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• कुले: in the lineage/family
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• जातः: born
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'born'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• साक्षात्: directly/manifestly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/निपात (directly, manifestly)
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• धर्मः: Dharma/righteousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like/as)
• Role: Sambandha (उपमान-सम्बन्ध)

• अपरः: another (as it were)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (another/second)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• धृतिमान्: firm/steadfast
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing firmness)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• सुव्रतः: of excellent vows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• श्रीमान्: illustrious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing splendor/fortune)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)
• Role: Sambandha (निषेध)

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteousness
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• हातुम्: to abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), परस्मैपद-धातु; 'to abandon'
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)

• अर्हसि: you are fit/ought
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• साक्षाद्धर्म = साक्षात् + धर्म
• इवापरः = इव + अपरः
• श्रीमान्न = श्रीमान् + न

Context

"Born in the line of Ikshvaku, you are a veritable the second god of righteousness, firm adherent of vows auspicious and virtuous. It is not right on your part to abandon yourpromise.

The teaching

Nobility is proven by steadfastness: one who is rooted in vows and lineage-duty must not forsake dharma even under strain.

Duties in tension

• Personal comfort/safety of youth vs hazardous mission
• Obedience to guru/elder request vs hesitation
• Kṣatriya protection of yajña and sages vs private inclination

Ethical theme

Svadharma (kṣatriya-dharma) and vrata-niṣṭhā

How it resolves

Svadharma affirmation through guru-upadeśa

Devotion and practice

Japa/ स्मरण of Rāma as maryādā-puruṣottama strengthens resolve to keep vows and act rightly; useful for sankalpa reinforcement.

Deity praised

Rāma (as Dharma-incarnate)

Form of praise

Stuti (a hymn of praise)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Vira (heroism), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Resolute, uplifting, didactic

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Royal ethics
• Promise-keeping
• Maryādā

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Ikṣvāku (dynasty)
• Daśaratha
• Dharma (personified principle)

FAQs

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

A king’s dharma is to uphold truth and commitments—especially when made to a sage—placing public righteousness above private hesitation.

What is the narrative situation?

At court, Daśaratha is exhorted not to withdraw from the righteous course of action (sending Rāma with Viśvāmitra) after the request has been made.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s expected virtue is satya (truthfulness) and dhṛti (steadfastness) in maintaining vows befitting the Ikṣvāku tradition.