Shloka 3

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

स तौ निषण्णौ सम्प्रेक्ष्य सुखासीनौ नृपात्मजौ।शतानन्दो मुनिश्रेष्ठं विश्वामित्रमथामब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

sa tau niṣaṇṇau samprekṣya sukhāsīnau nṛpātmajau |

śatānando muni-śreṣṭhaṁ viśvāmitram athābravīt ||

Translation

见两位王子近旁安坐、怡然自得，沙塔难陀便对圣仙之最——毗湿瓦密多开口说道。

Word by Word

• अपि: whether/indeed
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (interrogative/particle: ‘whether/also’)

• ते: by you/your
• ते: Kartr-sambandha (कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन (enclitic ‘te’); अत्र कर्तृ-सम्बन्धे ‘by you/your’ (तृतीया-अर्थे प्रयोगः)

• मुनिशार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां शार्दूलः)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माता)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यशस्विनी: renowned
• यशस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यशस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माता)

• दर्शिता: shown
• दर्शिता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (माता ‘shown’)

• राजपुत्राय: to the prince
• राजपुत्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः पुत्रः)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीर्घम्: long (for long time)
• दीर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तपः)

• उपागता: having attained/undertaken
• उपागता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आ+गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि (माता)

Context

Satananda saw the two princes comfortably seated nearby and said to Viswamitra, the foremost of the ascetics:

Characters & Entities

• Śatānanda
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (implied as one prince)
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied as the other prince)

FAQs

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

Dharma appears as proper conduct in assemblies: observing guests, speaking at the right moment, and addressing elders with honor—social righteousness that sustains sacred discourse.

What is the narrative situation?

In Mithilā’s setting, Śatānanda notices Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa seated comfortably and begins a conversation with Viśvāmitra, leading into questions about Ahalyā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Courtesy and reverence (vinaya): Śatānanda addresses Viśvāmitra as the foremost sage, modeling respectful speech.