Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 16

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

तेषां वरयतां कन्यां सर्वेषां पृथिवीक्षिताम्।वीर्यशुल्केति भगवन् न ददामि सुतामहम्।।1.66.16।।

Transliteration

teṣāṁ varayatāṁ kanyāṁ sarveṣāṁ pṛthivīkṣitām |

vīryaśulketi bhagavan na dadāmi sutām aham ||1.66.16||

Translation

Dẫu hết thảy các bậc quân vương đều đến cầu hôn thiếu nữ ấy, bạch Đấng tôn kính, ta vẫn không gả con—vì giữ điều kiện rằng nàng chỉ thuộc về người chiến thắng bằng dũng lực đã được chứng minh.

Word by Word

• teṣām: of those
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• varayatām: of (those) seeking
• varayatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (वृ धातु, 'choose')
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; 'of those who were seeking (her)'

• kanyām: the maiden
• kanyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• pṛthivī-kṣitām: of the earth-ruling kings
• pṛthivī-kṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; समासः—पृथिव्याः क्षितः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) 'rulers of the earth'

• vīrya-śulke: with prowess as bride-price
• vīrya-śulke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; condition-locative

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-marker (उक्तिवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: quotative particle

• bhagavan: O venerable one
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: negation particle (निषेध)

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person/उत्तमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• sutām: daughter
• sutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; pronoun

Context

O Pre-eminent among ascetics! thereafter many kings together came to Mithila to test their prowess.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Sītā
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Satya and dharma as fidelity to one’s declared standard: Janaka does not bend rules under pressure from powerful suitors.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite many proposals from monarchs, Janaka maintains the vow/condition that only a demonstrably capable hero may marry Sītā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity—steadfastness to a principled commitment even before influential claimants.