Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 72, Shloka 23

वैवाहिकसंबन्ध

निश्चयः / Fixing the Mithila–Ayodhya Marital Alliance

Devanagari script

सुवर्णश्रुङ्गा स्सम्पन्ना स्सवत्सा: कांस्यदोहना:।गवां शतसहस्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभ:।।।।वित्तमन्यच्च सुबहुद्विजेभ्यो रघुनन्दन:।ददौ गोदानमुद्दिश्य पुत्राणां पुत्रवत्सल:।।।।

Transliteration

suvarṇaśṛṅgāḥ sampannāḥ savatsāḥ kāṃsyadohanāḥ | gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi catvāri puruṣarṣabhaḥ || vittam anyac ca subahu dvijebhyo raghunandanaḥ | dadau godānam uddiśya putrāṇāṃ putravatsalaḥ ||

Translation

那位人中雄牛、罗阇族之欢喜者，因爱子之情，便以诸子之名向诸“再生者”（dvija）施与四十万头牛为殊胜供养。诸牛皆丰足健美，带犊而行，牛角饰以黄金，并备有青铜挤乳器具；他又另赐婆罗门无量财宝。

Word by Word

• suvarṇa-śṛṅgāḥ: golden-horned
• suvarṇa-śṛṅgāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय: 'suvarṇāni śṛṅgāṇi yeṣām' (golden-horned)

• sampannāḥ: well-endowed / prosperous
• sampannāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√pad (सम्+पद् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• savatsāḥ: with calves
• savatsāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'vatsaiḥ saha' = with calves

• kāṃsya-dohanāḥ: having bronze milking-vessels
• kāṃsya-dohanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāṃsya (प्रातिपदिक) + dohana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: 'kāṃsyena dohanaṃ yeṣām' (having bronze milking-vessels)

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), षष्ठी (Gen/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śata-sahasrāṇi: hundred-thousands
• śata-sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• catvāri: four
• catvāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catvāri (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्या-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• puruṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ: bull among men (best of men)
• puruṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'puruṣāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ'

• vittam: wealth
• vittam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• anyat: other
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); 'vittam' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• subahu: very much / abundant
• subahu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: 'ati-bahu' = very much/abundant; 'vittam' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dvijebhyaḥ: to the twice-born (brahmins)
• dvijebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी (Dat/4th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• raghu-nandanaḥ: descendant/joy of Raghu (Daśaratha)
• raghu-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'raghoḥ nandanaḥ'

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा॒तु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• go-dānam: gift of cows
• go-dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'gavāṃ dānam'

• uddiśya: having designated / with reference to
• uddiśya: Kriyā-sahakārī (क्रियासहकारी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√diś (उद्+दिश् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप् (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• putrāṇām: of (his) sons
• putrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (Gen/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• putra-vatsalaḥ: affectionate to his sons
• putra-vatsalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'putreṣu vatsalaḥ' (affectionate towards sons)

Context

Great among men and affectionate towards his children, (king Dasaratha), the delight of the Raghus donated in the name of his sons' donates to the brahmins four hundred thousand cows. They were capable of abundance of milk. Their horns were plaited with gold. They were accompanied by calves. With them were given away bellmetal vessels for keeping milk and innumerable valuables.

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha (Raghunandana)
• Raghu dynasty
• brāhmaṇas (dvija)
• cows (go)
• gold (suvarṇa)

FAQs

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

Dāna with integrity: gifts are described as complete and dignified (healthy cows, calves, proper vessels), highlighting that dharmic giving includes quality, not mere quantity.

What is the narrative situation?

The text elaborates the scale and auspicious specifications of Daśaratha’s go-dāna performed in connection with his sons’ welfare and rites.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Putravātsalya (parental affection) joined with generosity: Daśaratha’s love for his sons expresses itself through righteous charity and careful ritual propriety.