वर्णेष्वग्र्यचतुर्थेषु देवतातिथिपूजका:। कृतज्ञाश्च वदान्याश्च शूरा विक्रमसंयुता: ।।1.6.17।। दीर्घायुषो नरास्सर्वे धर्मं सत्यं च संश्रिता: । सहिता: पुत्रपौत्रैश्च नित्यं स्त्रीभि: पुरोत्तमे ।।1.6.18।।
Meaning
Across all four castes, the people worshipped gods and guests alike, were grateful, generous, heroic and full of valor. Every one of them lived a long life, devoted to dharma and truth, always surrounded in that finest of cities by their sons, grandsons, and wives.
Word-by-word (pada-artha)
Shloka 1.6.17
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| varṇeṣu | वर्णेषु | in four caste-system | Best-effort: role not confidently classified |
| agrya | अग्र्य | first one | Gerund (having done) |
| caturtheṣu | चतुर्थेषु | among four | Best-effort: role not confidently classified |
| devtā atithi pūjakā: | देव्ता अतिथि पूजकाः | deities, guests, worshippers | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| kṛtaGYā: ca | कृतग्याः च | faithful ones, also | Indeclinable/particle |
| vadānyā: ca | वदान्याः च | illustrious, also | Indeclinable/particle |
| śūrā: | शूराः | valiant ones | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| vikrama | विक्रम | bravery | Best-effort: role not confidently classified |
| samyutā: | सम्युताः | having with him | Nominative singular (masc.) |
Shloka 1.6.18
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| dīrgha āyuṣa: | दीर्घ आयुषः | long, life [longevity] | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| narā: sarve | नराः सर्वे | people, all of them | Locative/Dative singular |
| dharmam | धर्मम् | virtuousness | Accusative singular |
| satyam | सत्यम् | truthfulness | Accusative singular |
| ca | च | also | Indeclinable/particle |
| samsritā: | सम्स्रिताः | they have | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| sahita: | सहितः | along with | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| putra | पुत्र | sons | Best-effort: role not confidently classified |
| pautraia: ca | पौत्रैअः च | grandsons, also | Indeclinable/particle |
| strībhi: | स्त्रीभिः | ladies | Nominative singular (masc.) |
| pura uttame | पुर उत्तमे | city, the best | Locative/Dative singular |
Scholar commentary
Shloka 1.6.17
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
The source flags the English word 'caste' itself as an imported and imprecise term -- from Spanish/Portuguese casta ('lineage, race, breed') -- used here only for convenience, and suggests the Latin classis ('an assembly' or 'section of society') would render the original varna system more accurately than 'caste' does.
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Shloka 1.6.18
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
The source flags the English word 'caste' itself as an imported and imprecise term -- from Spanish/Portuguese casta ('lineage, race, breed') -- used here only for convenience, and suggests the Latin classis ('an assembly' or 'section of society') would render the original varna system more accurately than 'caste' does.
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Reference: 1.6.17-18 · Bāla Kāṇḍa