Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 13, Shloka 31

हयमेध

यज्ञोपक्रमः — Commencement of the Aśvamedha Preparations

Devanagari script

तत: कैश्चिदहोरात्रैरुपयाता महीक्षित:।।1.13.31।।बहूनि रत्नान्यादाय राज्ञो दशरथस्य वै।

Transliteration

tataḥ kaiścid ahorātrair upayātā mahīkṣitaḥ || 1.13.31 ||

bahūni ratnāny ādāya rājño daśarathasya vai |

Translation

此后不过数日数夜，诸王相继而至，携来无数珍宝，奉献于檀舍罗陀王。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय

• कैश्चित्: by some (persons)
• कैश्चित्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितार्थ (by some)

• अहोरात्रैः: in (a few) days and nights
• अहोरात्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (अहः + रात्रिः)

• उपयाताः: arrived
• उपयाताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या-√इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘arrived’ (as predicate)

• महीक्षितः: kings
• महीक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीक्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (महीं क्षिपति/पालयति इति) = king

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (रत्नानि)

• रत्नानि: gems, gifts
• रत्नानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आदाय: having brought/taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√दा (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दशरथस्य: of Daśaratha
• दशरथस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Context

Meanwhile kings from several countries to travelling nights and days arrived bringing with them various kinds of (precious) gifts.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha

FAQs

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

The verse reflects rājadharma and social duty: allied rulers honor a sovereign’s sacred undertaking by timely attendance and respectful offerings.

What is the narrative situation?

Invited rulers come to Ayodhyā/Daśaratha’s court contextually for the yajña, carrying valuable gifts as marks of respect and participation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful alliance and generosity: the visiting kings demonstrate goodwill through prompt arrival and appropriate offerings.