Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 19

ऋश्यशृङ्गानयनकथा — The Account of Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga

and the Remedy for Drought

Devanagari script

अथ हृष्टो दशरथस्सुमन्त्रं प्रत्यभाषत।यथर्श्यशृङ्गस्त्वानीतो विस्तरेण त्वयोच्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

atha hṛṣṭo daśarathaḥ sumantraṃ pratyabhāṣata |

yatharśyaśṛṅgas tv ānīto vistareṇa tvayocyatām ||

Translation

Bấy giờ Daśaratha hoan hỷ, liền bảo Sumantra: “Hãy nói tường tận cho trẫm biết, bằng cách nào Ṛśyaśṛṅga đã được thỉnh đến.”

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, discourse connector (अनन्तरार्थक)

• hṛṣṭaḥ: pleased
• hṛṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √hṛṣ (धातु) → hṛṣṭa (क्त/PPP)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; predicate adjective of 'daśarathaḥ'

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of 'pratyabhāṣata')
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक) (proper noun)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• sumantram: Sumantra
• sumantram: Karma (कर्म) (addressee as object with 'prati')
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदिक) (proper noun)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• prati: towards / to
• prati: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, preverb/preposition (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) meaning 'towards/addressing'

• abhāṣata: spoke
• abhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (imperfect), Ātmanepada, 3rd person Singular

• yathā: how / in what manner
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, interrogative/relative adverb (प्रकार/उपायवाचक) 'how/in what way'

• ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ: Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• ṛśyaśṛṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of passive 'ānītaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛśyaśṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• tu: indeed
• tu: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• ānītaḥ: was brought
• ānītaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (embedded passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nī (धातु) → ānīta (क्त/PPP)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; passive 'was brought'

• vistareṇa: in detail
• vistareṇa: Karaṇa (करण) (manner/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental Singular; adverbial instrument 'in detail'

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental Singular; agent with passive imperative 'ucyatām'

• ucyatām: let it be described
• ucyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) (passive stem ucyate)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative), Passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person Singular; 'let it be said'

Context

At this time a powerful king Romapada, mighty and celebrated would be living in the country of Anga.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• Romapāda (implied by context)

FAQs

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

Responsible action begins with clear inquiry: Daśaratha seeks full knowledge before undertaking a dharmic course to secure heirs.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing the prophecy, Daśaratha requests a detailed account of the precedent—how Ṛśyaśṛṅga was previously brought from the forest.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and deliberation (vicāra): the king does not act rashly but asks for particulars to align means with dharma.