Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 69, Shloka 14

एकोनसप्ततितमः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Departure to Videha and Marriage Arrangements

Devanagari script

प्रतिग्रहो दातृवश श्श्रृतमेतन्मया पुरा।।।।यथा वक्ष्यसि धर्मज्ञ तत्करिष्यामहे वयम्।

Transliteration

pratigraho dātṛvaśaḥ śrutam etan mayā purā |

yathā vakṣyasi dharmajña tat kariṣyāmahe vayam || 1.69.14 ||

Translation

我早已听闻：受纳取决于施与者之意。噢通达正法者，你所吩咐的一切，我们必照办。

Word by Word

• pratigrahaḥ: acceptance (of a gift)
• pratigrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati + graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dātṛvaśaḥ: as the giver wishes
• dātṛvaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dātṛ + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘pratigrahaḥ’; ‘dependent on the giver’s will’

• śrutam: has been heard/known
• śrutam: Kriya (क्रिया-रूप)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) used predicatively, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(it is) heard/known’

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of predication with ‘śrutam’

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb (पूर्वकालवाचक)

• yathā: as/according to
• yathā: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, correlative adverb/conjunction (यथातथा-सम्बन्ध)

• vakṣyasi: you will say
• vakṣyasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dharmajña: O knower of righteousness
• dharmajña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन; ‘knower of dharma’

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘kariṣyāmahe’

• kariṣyāmahe: we shall do
• kariṣyāmahe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Context

"I have heard that acceptance of a gift from the righteous is a pleasure. So we will act upon your word".

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Janaka (dharmajña)

FAQs

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

Dharma of consent and propriety in giving/receiving: the receiver honors the giver’s rightful agency, and Daśaratha models respectful acceptance aligned with righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha responds to Janaka’s scheduling and ritual direction for the marriage, agreeing to proceed as Janaka (the host-giver) prescribes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Deference and self-restraint: despite being a great king, Daśaratha submits to dharmic procedure and Janaka’s role as giver.