Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 2

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

अचिन्त्यान्यप्रमेयानि कुलानि नरपुङ्गव।इक्ष्वाकूणां विदेहानां नैषां तुल्योऽस्ति कश्चन।।।।

Transliteration

acintyāny aprameyāni kulāni narapuṅgava | ikṣvākūṇāṃ videhānāṃ naiṣāṃ tulyo 'sti kaścana ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc anh hùng giữa loài người, các vương tộc của dòng Ikṣvāku và Videha thật chẳng thể nghĩ bàn, chẳng thể đo lường; trên đời không ai sánh kịp hai tông thất ấy.

Word by Word

• acintyāni: inconceivable
• acintyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulāni
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acintya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √cint (धातु) + a- + -ya)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) Bahuvacana; adjectival participial derivative meaning 'not to be thought of'

• aprameyāni: immeasurable
• aprameyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kulāni
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aprameya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √mā (धातु) with pra- + a- + -ya)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'not measurable/immeasurable'

• kulāni: lineages
• kulāni: Karta (कर्ता) / subject of asti
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• narapuṅgava: O best of men
• narapuṅgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन) Ekavacana, Puṃliṅga; tatpuruṣa: 'naraṇāṃ puṅgavaḥ' (best among men)

• ikṣvākūṇām: of the Ikṣvākus
• ikṣvākūṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with kulāni
• Type: Noun
• Root: ikṣvāku (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी) Bahuvacana (genitive plural)

• videhānām: of the Videhas
• videhānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with kulāni
• Type: Noun
• Root: videha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध-अव्यय)

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध) with tulyaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī Bahuvacana (genitive plural), sarvanāma; 'of these'

• tulyaḥ: equal
• tulyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kaścana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; predicative adjective with kaścana

• asti: exists/is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष) Ekavacana

• kaścana: anyone
• kaścana: Karta (कर्ता) / subject complement with tulyaḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: ka (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + cana (अव्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; indefinite pronoun 'anyone'

Context

"You both brothers are lords of Mithila. You possess countless virtues. You pay regards to many rishis and hosts of kings".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Janaka
• Ikṣvāku dynasty

FAQs

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

Kuladharma and rājadharma: the verse upholds the idea that noble lineages are measured by their sustained commitment to righteous conduct, not merely by power or wealth.

What is the narrative situation?

During marriage negotiations, Janaka honors both dynasties—Ikṣvāku (Rāma’s house) and Videha (Sītā’s house)—to affirm the propriety of the alliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Janaka’s humility and discernment: he praises merit and tradition, framing the marriage as a dharmic union between worthy houses.