Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 51

सत्यपाशः

Kaikeyi’s Demand and the Noose of the King’s Promise

Devanagari script

उत्तिष्ठाशु महाराज कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः।।।।विराजमानो वपुषा मेरोरिव दिवाकरः।

Transliteration

uttiṣṭhāśu mahārāja kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ |

virājamāno vapuṣā meror iva divākaraḥ ||

Translation

速起吧，大王，已具吉祥庆典之仪；愿你形容焕然，如日照须弥山而辉耀。

Word by Word

• uttiṣṭha: rise/get up
• uttiṣṭha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्ग: उत्-; लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, शीघ्रार्थक (adverb): ‘quickly’

• mahārāja: O great king
• mahārāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahārāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• kṛta-kautuka-maṅgalaḥ: having arranged festive auspicious rites
• kṛta-kautuka-maṅgalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु) + kautuka (प्रातिपदिक) + maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; ‘having done/arranged’ + ‘festive rites’ + ‘auspicious (things)’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the addressed king)

• virājamānaḥ: shining
• virājamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāj (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन: ‘shining’

• vapuṣā: with (his) body/appearance
• vapuṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन

• meroḥ: of Meru
• meroḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमा-वाचक (comparative particle): ‘like/as’

• divākaraḥ: the sun
• divākaraḥ: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

O mighty king get up at once like the Sun rising up mount Meru. Put on your beautiful body auspicious robes befitting the festivity.

Characters & Entities

• Sumantra
• Daśaratha
• Mount Meru
• Sun (Divākara)

FAQs

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

Dharma is promptness and dignity in public role: the king must rise and embody auspicious leadership for the realm.

What is the narrative situation?

Sumantra directly urges Daśaratha to rise immediately and prepare in auspicious attire/rites for the day’s royal proceedings.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Royal dignity and readiness—projecting steadiness that supports social order.