Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 1

एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Departure to Videha and Marriage Arrangements

Devanagari script

ततो रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां सोपाध्याय: सबान्धव:।राजा दशरथो हृष्ट स्सुमन्त्रमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

tato rātryāṁ vyatītāyāṁ sopādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ |

rājā daśaratho hṛṣṭaḥ sumantram idam abravīt || 1.69.1 ||

Translation

夜已过去，达沙拉陀王偕同师长与亲族，心怀欢喜，对苏曼特罗说道如下之言。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदर्थक-क्रमसूचक (then/thereafter)

• rātryām: in the night
• rātryām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• vyatītāyām: when (it) had passed
• vyatītāyām: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ati-i (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; locative absolute with ‘rātryām’

• sa-upādhyāyaḥ: accompanied by preceptors
• sa-upādhyāyaḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + upādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘with the preceptors’

• sa-bāndhavaḥ: with kinsmen
• sa-bāndhavaḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + bāndhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘with relatives’

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg)

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); apposition to ‘rājā’

• hṛṣṭaḥ: delighted
• hṛṣṭaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण of ‘rājā’

• sumantram: Sumantra
• sumantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumantra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

With the passing of the night king Dasaratha, accompanied by spiritual preceptors and relatives said to Sumantra:

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Sumantra
• kinsmen (bāndhavaḥ)

FAQs

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

Respect for counsel and tradition: the king proceeds with elders and religious guides, reflecting dharmic governance through consultation and ritual propriety.

What is the narrative situation?

After the night’s rest in Mithilā, Daśaratha begins the next day’s arrangements by instructing his minister/charioteer Sumantra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s disciplined kingship—acting with guidance (teachers) and family support rather than impulsively.