वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-1, chapter-15, verse-1

ततो नारायणो विष्णुर्नियुक्तः सुरसत्तमैः ।
जानन्नपि सुरानेवं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१॥

1. tato nārāyaṇo viṣṇurniyuktaḥ surasattamaiḥ ,
jānannapi surānevaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanamabravīt.

1. tataḥ nārāyaṇaḥ viṣṇuḥ niyuktaḥ sura-sattamaiḥ
jānan api surān evam ślakṣṇam vacanam abravīt

1. tataḥ nārāyaṇaḥ viṣṇuḥ sura-sattamaiḥ niyuktaḥ
jānan api evam ślakṣṇam vacanam surān abravīt

1. Then Narayana (Nārāyaṇa), who is Vishnu (Viṣṇu), although knowing everything, being requested by the foremost among the gods, spoke gentle words to the gods (suras) in this manner.

Words meanings summery:

• ततः (tataḥ) - then, thereafter, from that

• नारायणः (nārāyaṇaḥ) - Narayana (name of Vishnu)

• विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Vishnu (name of the deity)

• नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - appointed, entrusted, requested

• सुर-सत्तमैः (sura-sattamaiḥ) - by the foremost among the gods

• जानन् (jānan) - knowing

• अपि (api) - even, although, also

• सुरान् (surān) - gods

• एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner

• श्लक्ष्णम् (ślakṣṇam) - gentle, mild, smooth

• वचनम् (vacanam) - word, speech, saying

• अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - he spoke

Words meanings and morphology

ततः (tataḥ) - then, thereafter, from that

(indeclinable)

नारायणः (nārāyaṇaḥ) - Narayana (name of Vishnu)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of nārāyaṇa

nārāyaṇa - Narayana (a name of Vishnu, cosmic person)

विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Vishnu (name of the deity)

(proper noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of viṣṇu

viṣṇu - Vishnu (a major Hindu deity)

नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - appointed, entrusted, requested

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of niyukta

niyukta - appointed, engaged, requested, enjoined

Past Passive Participle

Derived from the root 'yuj' with the prefix 'ni-'.

Prefix: ni

Root: yuj (class 7)

सुर-सत्तमैः (sura-sattamaiḥ) - by the foremost among the gods

(noun)

Instrumental, masculine, plural of sura-sattama

sura-sattama - best of gods, foremost among gods

Compound type : tatpuruṣa (sura+sattama)

• sura – god, deity
  noun (masculine)
• sattama – best, most excellent
  adjective (masculine)

जानन् (jānan) - knowing

(nominal form)

Nominative, masculine, singular of jñā

jñā - to know, understand, recognize

Present Active Participle

From root jñā (to know), Class 9 verb.

Root: jñā (class 9)

अपि (api) - even, although, also

(indeclinable)

सुरान् (surān) - gods

(noun)

Accusative, masculine, plural of sura

sura - god, deity

एवम् (evam) - thus, in this manner

(indeclinable)

श्लक्ष्णम् (ślakṣṇam) - gentle, mild, smooth

(adjective)

Accusative, neuter, singular of ślakṣṇa

ślakṣṇa - smooth, soft, gentle, delicate

वचनम् (vacanam) - word, speech, saying

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of vacana

vacana - speech, word, utterance, saying

अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - he spoke

(verb)

3rd person , singular, active, past imperfect (laṅ) of brū

Root: brū (class 2)