Shloka 19

पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः — Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival

Bālakāṇḍa 18

Devanagari script

प्रदेयांश्च ददौ राजा सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्।ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ वित्तं गोधनानि सहस्रश:।।।।

Transliteration

pradeyāṃś ca dadau rājā sūtamāgadhavandinām |

brāhmaṇebhyo dadau vittaṃ godhanāni sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

国王向苏陀、摩伽陀与颂赞诗人施予应当施舍的供养；又赐予婆罗门无数财宝与成千上万头牛。

Word by Word

• प्रदेयान्: fit to be given (gifts)
• प्रदेयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रदेय (कृदन्त; √दा)
• Form: भविष्यत्कृदन्त/योग्यतार्थक (gerundive/तव्यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ: 'to be given'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; (दानवस्तूनि) इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्: of/for bards, panegyrists, and heralds
• सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक) + मागध (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative: 'sūtāś ca māgadhāś ca vandinaś ca'); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive/6th), बहुवचन; दानस्य सम्प्रदान-सम्बन्धः

• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: to Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (dative/4th), बहुवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गोधनानि: cattle (wealth in cows)
• गोधनानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'gāvaḥ eva dhanaṃ' / 'wealth in cows'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सहस्रशः: in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (distribution/manner: 'by thousands')

Context

Having completed the prescribed vows (in respect of aswamedha), king Dasaratha together with his queens returned to the city of Ayodhya accompanied by his attendants, army and chariots.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Brāhmaṇas
• Cows (go-dhana)

FAQs

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

Dāna (generosity) as rāja-dharma: prosperity is legitimized by giving—supporting spiritual learning (brāhmaṇas) and cultural memory (bards/genealogists).

What is the narrative situation?

During the celebrations, Daśaratha distributes gifts and wealth widely, especially to brāhmaṇas and courtly reciters.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Generosity and gratitude—Daśaratha responds to auspicious fortune by sharing abundance in a socially sustaining way.