Shloka 5

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु अयोध्याधिपतिर्नृप:।अम्बरीष इति ख्यातो यष्टुं समुपचक्रमे।।।।

Transliteration

etasminn eva kāle tu ayodhyādhipatir nṛpaḥ | ambarīṣa iti khyāto yaṣṭuṃ samupacakrame ||

Translation

正当那时，统治阿踰陀（Ayodhyā）的国王——名闻为安婆利沙（Ambarīṣa）——开始筹行一场祭祀大典（yajña）。

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; 'in this'

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle: 'just/indeed')

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय

• अयोध्याधिपतिः: the lord of Ayodhyā
• अयोध्याधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('lord of Ayodhyā')

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to अयोध्याधिपतिः

• अम्बरीषः: Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative)

• ख्यातः: known; famed
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यष्टुम्: to perform a sacrifice
• यष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): 'to sacrifice/perform a rite'

• समुपचक्रमे: began; commenced
• समुपचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

At this time Ambarisha, a well-known king of Ayodhya, launched preparations for a sacrifice.

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa
• Ayodhyā
• yajña (sacrifice)

FAQs

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

The verse introduces rājadharma expressed through yajña: a king is expected to uphold social and cosmic order by undertaking sanctioned rites and responsibilities with public intent.

What is the narrative situation?

King Ambarīṣa of Ayodhyā begins preparations to perform a sacrifice, setting the stage for the ensuing conflict around the sacrificial victim.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Initiative and duty-consciousness (kartavya-niṣṭhā): the king actively begins a rite associated with royal responsibility.