Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 2

बलातिबलोपदेशः

The Instruction of Bala and Atibala

Devanagari script

कृतस्वस्त्ययनं मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च।पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैरभिमन्त्रितम्।।1.22.2।।स पुत्रं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय राजा दशरथ: प्रियम्।ददौ कुशिकपुत्राय सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना।।1.22.3।।

Transliteration

kṛtasvastyayanaṃ mātrā pitrā daśarathena ca | purodhasā vasiṣṭhena maṅgalair abhimantritam || 1.22.2 ||

sa putraṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya rājā daśarathaḥ priyam | dadau kuśikaputrāya suprītenāntarātmanā || 1.22.3 ||

Translation

Sau khi mẹ và phụ vương Daśaratha đã làm lễ cát tường tiễn biệt và ban phúc, và sau khi quốc sư Vasiṣṭha dùng những chân ngôn cát tường gia trì, vua Daśaratha hôn lên đỉnh đầu người con yêu dấu. Với nội tâm hoan hỷ thuận tình, ngài phó thác con cho con trai của Kuśika (Viśvāmitra).

Word by Word

• kṛta-svastyayanam: (him) for whom the svastyayana rites were performed
• kṛta-svastyayanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √kṛ) + svastyayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'svastyayana having been done'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया/प्रथमा (Acc./Nom.) एकवचन; here as predicate/qualifier to putram (acc.)

• mātrā: by the mother
• mātrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• daśarathena: by Daśaratha
• daśarathena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to pitrā

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• purodhasā: by the family priest
• purodhasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purodhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to purodhasā

• maṅgalaiḥ: with auspicious (rites/mantras)
• maṅgalaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• abhimantritam: consecrated/blessed by mantras
• abhimantritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√mantr (मन्त्र्, धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP: क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies putram (acc.)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mūrdhni: on the head/forehead
• mūrdhni: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• upāghrāya: having kissed/smelled
• upāghrāya: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√ghrā (घ्रा, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having smelled/kissed)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to rājā

• priyam: dear
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to putram

• dadau: gave/entrusted
• dadau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• kuśika-putrāya: to the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśika-putrāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('son of Kuśika'); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• suprītena: with a very pleased
• suprītena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suprīta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from su-√prī)
• Form: कृत् (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; qualifies antarātmanā

• antar-ātmanā: heart/inner self
• antar-ātmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antar (अव्यय/पूर्वपद) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ('inner self'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

Context

Rama was given farewell by his parents with recitation of mantras (for securing prosperity and averting evils). Priest Vasishta sanctified him with mantras Dasaratha kissed his son on the forehead and delivered him to the care of Viswamitra, with a heart full of cheer.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikaputra)
• Svastyayana (benedictory rite)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma and satya: Daśaratha honors his commitment to the sage and subordinates personal attachment to righteous obligation, entrusting his son after proper sanctifying rites.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma is ritually blessed and formally handed over by Daśaratha to Viśvāmitra for the forest-mission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s dutiful integrity (truthfulness and responsibility) and the culture of respectful transition into discipleship under a guru.