Shloka 10

वंशवर्णनम् तथा विवाहप्रार्थना

Genealogy of the Ikshvaku Line and the Proposal for Marriage

Devanagari script

उपविष्टावुभौ तौ तु भ्रातरावतितेजसौ।।1.70.10।।प्रेषयामासतुर्वीरौ मन्त्रिश्रेष्ठं सुदामनम्।

Transliteration

upaviṣṭāv ubhau tau tu bhrātarāv atitejasau || 1.70.10 || preṣayāmāsatur vīrau mantri-śreṣṭhaṃ sudāmanam |

Translation

两位英勇的兄弟并坐一处，光辉照人；他们派遣了首席大臣苏达摩那前往。

Word by Word

• upaviṣṭau: (the two) seated
• upaviṣṭau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√viś (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); used adjectivally

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• bhrātarau: two brothers
• bhrātarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• atitejasau: of surpassing splendour
• atitejasau: Viśeṣaṇa of karta (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ati + tejas), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• preṣayāmāsatuḥ: they dispatched/sent
• preṣayāmāsatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√iṣ (धातु) [causative √iṣ→preṣayati]
• Form: Causative (णिच्), Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada

• vīrau: the two heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• mantriśreṣṭham: the best of ministers
• mantriśreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantrin + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: mantriṇām śreṣṭhaḥ), Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• sudāmanam: Sudāman
• sudāmanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Proper noun, Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

The two heroic brothers endowed with great splendour seated beside each other, despatched Sudamana the wisest of ministers (to Dasaratha).

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmāna

FAQs

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

Dharma includes orderly state conduct: important matters are handled through qualified ministers and proper delegation.

What is the narrative situation?

A formal envoy is sent to initiate contact and summon Daśaratha for the next proceedings in Mithilā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative prudence—choosing the best counselor for a sensitive royal mission.