Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 14, Shloka 57

अश्वमेधप्रवृत्तिः

Commencement and Performance of Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

तथेति च स राजानमुवाच द्विजसत्तम:।भविष्यन्ति सुता राजंश्चत्वारस्ते कुलोद्वहा:।।।।

Transliteration

tatheti ca sa rājānam uvāca dvijasattamaḥ | bhaviṣyanti sutā rājan catvāras te kulodvahāḥ ||

Translation

那位最尊贵的婆罗门对国王说道：“如是。大王啊，你将得四子，皆为承载你家族之人。”

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle ‘so/thus’

• iti: ‘so’ (quoting)
• iti: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking speech

• ca: and
• ca: None (अकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction ‘and’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) — ‘he’

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म) (addressee/object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada — ‘said’

• dvijasattamaḥ: the best brahmin
• dvijasattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to saḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + sattama (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘best among brahmins’

• bhaviṣyanti: will be (born)
• bhaviṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada — ‘will be’

• sutāḥ: sons
• sutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of bhaviṣyanti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• catvāraḥ: four
• catvāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral qualifying sutāḥ

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (beneficiary/possessor in sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन) — ‘to you’ (epic usage; enclitic te)

• kulodvahāḥ: upholders of the lineage
• kulodvahāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula + udvaha (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘upholders of the lineage’ (apposition to sutāḥ)

Context

Rsyasringa, the best of brahmins, addressing the king said, "O King! Let it be. Four sons perpetuating your race will be born to you".ইত্যার্ষে শ্রীমদ্রামাযণে বাল্মীকীয আদিকাব্যে বালকাণ্ডে চতুর্দশস্সর্গ:৷৷Thus ends the fourteenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣyaśṛṅga
• Daśaratha
• Kula (dynasty/lineage)

FAQs

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

Satya and blessing-power: the brāhmaṇa’s truthful assurance (satya-vākya) stabilizes dharmic order by promising rightful succession.

What is the narrative situation?

Ṛṣyaśṛṅga responds to Daśaratha’s request by affirming that four sons will be born to continue the dynasty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reliability of sacred speech—Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s words are presented as authoritative and truth-bearing.