Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 8

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

अपि मे गुरुणा राम: पूजित: कुशिकात्मज।इहागतो महातेजा: पूजां प्राप्तो महात्मन:।।।।

Transliteration

api me guruṇā rāmaḥ pūjitaḥ kuśikātmaja | ihāgato mahātejāḥ pūjāṃ prāpto mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

Hỡi con của Kuśika, Rāma có được phụ thân tôi cung kính tôn kính đúng phép chăng? Và khi bậc đại quang minh ấy đến đây, Rāma có đáp lễ, kính trọng phụ thân tôi—bậc đại nhân—chăng?

Word by Word

• अपि: whether
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative/particle)

• शान्तेन: with tranquil
• शान्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मनसा)

• मनसा: mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• गुरुः: teacher/father
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (enclitic)

• कुशिकात्मज: O son of Kuśika
• कुशिकात्मज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• आगतेन: having come
• आगतेन: Karana/Sahakari (करण/सह)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रामेण)

• रामेण: by Rāma
• रामेण: Kartr (कर्ता, तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मणि वाक्ये कर्तृ-तृतीया

• प्रयतेन: by the reverent/attentive one
• प्रयतेन: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रामेण)

• अभिवादितः: saluted
• अभिवादितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+वद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि (‘was saluted’)

Context

O Son of Kushika! was Rama honoured by my father? Was my most brilliant father honoured by illustrious Rama when he arrived?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• guru (Daśaratha’s father—contextually a royal elder)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as proper reciprocity of honour: elders and guests are to be respected, and a noble person ensures that respect is offered and returned with propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha asks Viśvāmitra whether Rāma was received with due honour by his (Daśaratha’s) father, and whether Rāma, upon arriving, also honoured that elder—confirming correct royal and familial conduct.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maryādā (courteous restraint and correct conduct), especially the virtue of showing reverence to elders and maintaining dignified social order.