Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 10

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

कुलं धन्यमिदं मन्ये येषां नो मुनिपुङ्गवौ ।सदृशं कुलसम्बन्धं यदाज्ञापयथ: स्वयम्।।।।

Transliteration

kulaṃ dhanyam idaṃ manye yeṣāṃ no munipuṅgavau | sadṛśaṃ kulasambandhaṃ yad ājñāpayathaḥ svayam ||

Translation

Ta cho rằng dòng tộc này thật phúc lành, vì hai bậc tối thượng trong hàng hiền thánh là các ngài. Chính các ngài tự thân truyền dạy mối kết giao xứng hợp giữa hai hoàng tộc.

Word by Word

• kulam: lineage
• kulam: Karma (कर्म) of manye
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• dhanyam: blessed
• dhanyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with kulam

• idam: this
• idam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulam
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with kulam

• manye: I consider
• manye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (मन्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Uttama-puruṣa Ekavacana, Ātmanepada

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana; relative pronoun 'of whom'

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with kulasambandham
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana (genitive plural) enclitic; 'of us/our'

• munipuṅgavau: the two foremost sages
• munipuṅgavau: Karta (कर्ता) of ājñāpayathaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Dvivacana; 'two best of sages'

• sadṛśam: befitting
• sadṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulasambandham
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with kulasambandham

• kulasambandham: family alliance
• kulasambandham: Karma (कर्म) of ājñāpayathaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula + sambandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'kulayoḥ sambandhaḥ' (alliance of families)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म) of ājñāpayathaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; relative pronoun referring to kulasambandham

• ājñāpayathaḥ: you two command
• ājñāpayathaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √jñā (ज्ञा) (धातु) (causative stem ājñāpay-)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष) Dvivacana, Parasmaipada; causative 'you two command/ordain'

• svayam: yourselves
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Svārtha-avyaya (स्वार्थ) adverb 'oneself'

Context

"Since both of you, eminent ascetics, recomended this befitting alliance of the two races on your own, I regard my race as blessed.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as accepting marriage as a sacred social bond guided by worthy authorities (ṛṣis), ensuring the alliance is ‘sadṛśa’—ethically and socially appropriate.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka responds positively to the sages’ recommendation for a marital alliance, treating their directive as auspicious for his dynasty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and reverence toward spiritual elders—Janaka values the sages’ judgment over personal pride.