Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 15

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

परो धर्म: कृतो मह्यं शिष्योऽस्मिभवतो सदा।इमान्यासनमुख्यानि आसातां मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।।।

Transliteration

paro dharmaḥ kṛto mahyaṃ śiṣyo 'smi bhavato sadā | imāny āsanamukhyāni āsātāṃ munipuṅgavau ||

Translation

“Một việc đại dharma đã được làm cho trẫm. Trẫm mãi là đệ tử của ngài; ô bậc tối thượng trong các ẩn sĩ, xin an tọa trên những tòa ngồi thượng hạng này.”

Word by Word

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying dharmaḥ)

• dharmaḥ: duty/merit
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st); एकवचन

• kṛtaḥ: has been done
• kṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; ‘done’ (agreeing with dharmaḥ)

• mahyam: for me
• mahyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/चतुर्थी-रूप ‘मह्यम्’; here चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th); एकवचन

• śiṣyaḥ: disciple
• śiṣyaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; predicate noun

• asmi: am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bhavato: of you (both)
• bhavato: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th); द्विवचन (honorific ‘of you two’)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• imāni: these
• imāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); बहुवचन

• āsanamukhyāni: the best seats
• āsanamukhyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana-mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (āsana + mukhya) ‘best seats’

• āsātām: please sit/occupy
• āsātām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ās (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person); द्विवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘sit/occupy (you two)’

• munipuṅgavau: O foremost sages (you two)
• munipuṅgavau: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munipuṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-द्विवचन; here सम्बोधनार्थे प्रथमा (vocative sense); द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (muni + puṅgava)

Context

"You have earned me a great religious merit. I shall be always your disciple O Eminent ascestics, occupy these important seats".

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

Dharma is gratitude and honoring spiritual teachers: Janaka treats the sages’ guidance as a ‘supreme merit’ and positions himself as their disciple.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka welcomes the sages formally, offering them the best seats and affirming his ongoing obedience to their counsel.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and hospitality—royal authority bows to spiritual excellence, upholding social and moral order.