Shloka 17

जनकदूतागमनम्

The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya

Devanagari script

गुप्त: कुशिकपुत्रेण कौसल्यानन्दवर्धन:।लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा विदेहेषु वसत्यसौ।।1.68.17।।

Transliteration

guptaḥ kuśikaputreṇa kausalyānandavardhanaḥ | lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā videheṣu vasaty asau ||

Translation

增益考萨利娅欢喜的罗摩，在俱尸迦之子（毗湿瓦蜜多罗）护持之下，与弟弟罗什曼那同住于毗提诃之地。

Word by Word

• guptaḥ: protected
• guptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √gup (गुप् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: PPP (क्त) 'protected', Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies asau

• kuśika-putreṇa: by the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśika-putreṇa: Kartr̥/Instrument (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• kausalyā-ānanda-vardhanaḥ: enhancer of Kausalyā's joy
• kausalyā-ānanda-vardhanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kausalyā (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet of Rāma

• lakṣmaṇena: with Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇena: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह), 'together with'

• bhrātrā: with (his) brother
• bhrātrā: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; apposition to lakṣmaṇena

• videheṣu: in Videha (lands)
• videheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: videha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• vasati: dwells
• vasati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (वस् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• asau: that one/he
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

Exceedingly happy to hear the words of the messengers, the king said to Vasishta, Vamadeva and other ministers.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Kausalyā
• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikaputra)
• Videha

FAQs

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

Dharma includes guardianship and trust: princes are to be protected under a qualified sage, and the king acknowledges that protective responsibility is being rightly fulfilled.

What is the narrative situation?

In Ayodhyā, Daśaratha notes that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa are currently in Videha under Viśvāmitra’s protection, setting up the decision to travel for the marriage alliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s protective stewardship and Rāma’s disciplined conduct under guidance—showing the ideal of learning and action under a guru’s care.