Shloka 14

कुशिकवंश

प्रसङ्गः / Genealogy of the Kuśika Line and the Kausikī River

Devanagari script

गतोऽर्धरात्र: काकुत्स्थ कथा: कथयतो मम।निद्रामभ्येहि भद्रं ते मा भूद्विघ्नोऽध्वनीह न:।।।।

Transliteration

gato 'rdharātraḥ kākutstha kathāḥ kathayato mama |

nidrām abhy ehi bhadraṃ te mā bhūd vighno 'dhvanīha naḥ ||

Translation

迦拘特斯陀啊，我讲述这些故事时，半夜已过。你且安歇，愿你吉祥；愿我们此后行路无有障碍。

Word by Word

• gataḥ: has passed
• gataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; predicate with 'ardharātraḥ'

• ardharātraḥ: midnight
• ardharātraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ardha-rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• kākutstha: O Kākutstha
• kākutstha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Sambodhana vibhakti (Voc.), Ekavacana

• kathāḥ: stories
• kathāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Bahuvacana

• kathayataḥ: while (I am) narrating
• kathayataḥ: Kāla (काल/temporal circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-participle (present active), Puṃliṅga (m.)/Genitive singular used; Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6), Ekavacana; 'of me while narrating' (genitive absolute-like)

• mama: of me
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6), Ekavacana

• nidrām: sleep
• nidrām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Acc. 2), Ekavacana

• abhyehi: go to (sleep)
• abhyehi: Kriyā (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√i (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ lakāra (Imperative), Madhyama puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• bhadram: good fortune
• bhadram: Āśīḥ (आशीः/benediction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc.), Ekavacana; used as benediction

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī vibhakti (Dat. 4), Ekavacana (enclitic)

• mā: do not/let not
• mā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (prohibitive particle) used with injunctive/optative

• bhūt: be (happen)
• bhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया/prohibition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ lakāra (Aorist injunctive), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada; with mā = 'let not be'

• vighnaḥ: obstacle
• vighnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vighna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā vibhakti (Nom. 1), Ekavacana

• adhvani: on the path
• adhvani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Saptamī vibhakti (Loc. 7), Ekavacana

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa (देश/spatial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (adverb: 'here')

• naḥ: for us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Gen. 6) or Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana enclitic; here genitive 'for us/our'

Context

O son of the Raghus'! the trees stand motionless, with the beasts and birds calm, all directions are pervaded with darkness.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Kākutstha)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes considerate conduct and right timing—rest is advised after instruction, and a prayer for obstacle-free travel reflects protective goodwill.

What is the narrative situation?

After finishing his narration, Viśvāmitra notes it is past midnight and instructs Rāma to sleep, offering blessings for the onward journey.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The sage’s benevolent guardianship and orderly discipline (knowing when to pause and preserve wellbeing).