Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 3

सिद्धाश्रमात् शोणातटं प्रस्थानम् — Departure from Siddhāśrama and the Invitation to Janaka’s Yajña

Bow of Mithilā

Devanagari script

अभिवाद्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्।ऊचतुर्मधुरोदारं वाक्यं मधुरभाषिणौ।।1.31.3।।

Transliteration

abhivādya muniśreṣṭhaṃ jvalantam iva pāvakam | ūcatur madhur-odāraṃ vākyaṃ madhura-bhāṣiṇau || 1.31.3 ||

Translation

Đảnh lễ bậc đại hiền tối thượng, rực cháy như ngọn lửa, hai anh em lời nói dịu ngọt đã thưa lên những lời êm ái mà cao nhã.

Word by Word

• abhivādya: having saluted
• abhivādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhivād (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √abhivād ‘to salute’; indeclinable verbal form (avyaya-kriyā)

• muniśreṣṭham: the best of sages
• muniśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘munīnām śreṣṭhaḥ’ (best among sages)

• jvalantam: blazing
• jvalantam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jval (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifying muniśreṣṭham

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमानद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-अव्यय)

• pāvakam: fire
• pāvakam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of comparison with iva

• ūcatuḥ: they two said
• ūcatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); parasmaipada; from √vac ‘to speak’

• madhura-udāram: sweet and noble
• madhura-udāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura + udāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘madhuraṃ ca udāraṃ ca’ (sweet and noble); qualifying vākyaṃ

• vākyam: words/speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• madhura-bhāṣiṇau: the two sweet-speaking (ones)
• madhura-bhāṣiṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura + bhāṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; tatpuruṣa: ‘madhuraṃ bhāṣate’ (one who speaks sweetly); subject of ūcatuḥ

Context

Sweet-tongued, they visited with folded hands the best of ascetics Viswamitra who was shining like a flaming fire and addressed him thus in sweet and generous words:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Viśvāmitra (muniśreṣṭha, implied)

FAQs

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

Dharma is right speech joined to reverence: the brothers honor the sage first and then speak in a measured, noble manner—truth and courtesy upheld together.

What is the narrative situation?

After approaching Viśvāmitra, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa salute him and begin speaking to him respectfully.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Mārdava (gentleness) and maryādā (propriety): their sweet, dignified speech reflects inner discipline and respect for spiritual authority.