Shloka 14

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

रक्षिता स्वस्य धर्मस्य स्वजनस्य च रक्षिता ।वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो धनुर्वेदे च निष्ठितः ।।।।

Transliteration

rakṣitā svasya dharmasya svajanasya ca rakṣitā |

vedavedāṅgatattvajño dhanurvede ca niṣṭhitaḥ ||1.1.14||

Translation

他守护自身的王者法度，也护佑自己的人民；他通晓吠陀及其诸支（Vedāṅga）的真实义理，并坚定精熟于《弓术吠陀》（Dhanurveda），即弓箭与战阵之学。

Word by Word

• रक्षिता: protector
• रक्षिता: Karta (कर्ता) — appositional epithet
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षितृ (प्रातिपदिक; from √रक्ष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वस्य: of his own
• स्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive modifier
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun) ‘of his own’

• धर्मस्य: of (his) duty/dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — dependent of ‘रक्षिता’
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• स्वजनस्य: of his own people
• स्वजनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — dependent of ‘रक्षिता’
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + जन (प्रातिपदिक); जन (head)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य जनः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रक्षिता: protector
• रक्षिता: Karta (कर्ता) — appositional epithet
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षितृ (प्रातिपदिक; from √रक्ष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-तत्त्व-ज्ञः: knower of the true purport of Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-तत्त्व-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + वेदाङ्ग + तत्त्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (upapada): ‘वेद-वेदाङ्गयोः तत्त्वं जानाति’

• धनुः-वेदे: in the science of archery
• धनुः-वेदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) — domain (‘in dhanurveda’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + वेद (प्रातिपदिक); वेद (head)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘धनुषः वेदः’ (archery/military science)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निष्ठितः: accomplished; firmly grounded
• निष्ठितः: Karta (कर्ता) — implied subject-qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + √स्था (धातु) → निष्ठित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP): ‘well-established/accomplished’

Context

Pious, firm in his vows, he is ever intent on doing good to his subjects. He is, illustrious, wise, and pure at heart. He is obedient to elders (or accessible to those who are dependent on him) and ever meditating (on the means of protecting those who take refuge in him).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Veda
• Dhanurveda
• Nārada
• Vālmīki

FAQs

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

Competence must serve righteousness: scriptural insight (Veda) and practical force (Dhanurveda) are both legitimate when used to protect people and uphold duty.

What is the narrative situation?

Nārada continues listing the qualities that make Rāma the ideal—uniting knowledge, discipline, and protective kingship.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrated excellence: śāstra-jñāna (knowledge of sacred learning) joined to kṣātra-sāmarthya (martial capability) for public protection.