Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 4

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

उष्णाढ्यस्योदनस्यात्र राशय: पर्वतोपमा:।मृष्टान्नानि च सूपाश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च।।1.53.3।।नानास्वादुरसानां च षाडबानां तथैव च।भाजनानि सुपूर्णानि गौडानि च सहस्रश:।।1.53.4।।

Transliteration

nānāsvādurasānāṃ ca ṣāḍabānāṃ tathaiva ca |

bhājanāni supūrṇāni gauḍāni ca sahasraśaḥ || 1.53.4 ||

Translation

又有千百器皿盛满诸味饮食——具足六味——并有无数以粗糖制成的甜品。

Word by Word

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• su-santuṣṭham: highly satisfied
• su-santuṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + santuṣṭa (sam-√tuṣ, तुष् धातु; क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying sarvam/viśvāmitrabalam)

• hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-jana-āyutam: filled with rejoiced and well-fed people
• hṛṣṭa-puṣṭa-jana-āyutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (√hṛṣ, हृष्; क्त) + puṣṭa (√puṣ, पुष्; क्त) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + āyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying viśvāmitrabalam)

• viśvāmitra-balam: Viśvāmitra's army
• viśvāmitra-balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी); प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• rāma: O Rāma
• rāma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karta (कर्ता) / Agent of passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• abhitarpitam: fully satisfied
• abhitarpitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√tṛp (तृप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Context

Heaps of hot rice as high as mountains, savoury food, condiments and on abundance of curd, various kinds of soups, containers in their thousands completely filled with edibles with all six tastes and preparations made of jaggery (were distributed).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma here is expressed as fullness in giving: the host ensures completeness and dignity in service, not mere minimal obligation.

What is the narrative situation?

The text continues describing the exceptional hospitality provided at Vasiṣṭha’s āśrama to the visiting royal-sage and his entourage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Abundance guided by restraint and propriety—generosity that supports social harmony.