Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 17

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

तेषां चिन्तयतां राम बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम्।क्षीरोदमथनं कृत्वा रसं प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ cintayatāṃ rāma buddhir āsīn mahātmanām | kṣīroda-mathanaṃ kṛtvā rasaṃ prāpsyāma tatra vai ||

Translation

“As they pondered, O Rāma, an idea came to those great beings: ‘By churning the Ocean of Milk, we shall indeed obtain the essence—nectar—from it.’”

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• चिन्तयताम्: while (they) were reflecting
• चिन्तयताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तय् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (Present active participle), षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of them who were thinking’

• राम: O Rama
• राम: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: a thought; plan
• बुद्धिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आसीत्: arose/was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• क्षीर-उद-मथनम्: churning of the ocean of milk
• क्षीर-उद-मथनम्: कर्म (Object of kṛtvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद (प्रातिपदिक) + मथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्षीरस्य उदः (समुद्रः) तस्य मथनम्’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done’

• रसम्: essence; nectar
• रसम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्स्याम: we shall obtain
• प्राप्स्याम: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तत्र: there; from there
• तत्र: अपादान/स्थान (Source/Location adjunct; ‘from there’)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• वै: indeed; surely
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/assurance particle)

Context

"O Rama! While the noble sons were reflecting over this matter an idea flashed across their minds to get nectar by churning the ocean of milk.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Kṣīroda (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

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

Dharma suggests purposeful effort (puruṣakāra) joined to wise planning: noble goals require disciplined means, cooperative action, and accountability for consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

The plan for obtaining nectar is formed: churn the Ocean of Milk to extract its essence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective resolve and strategic intelligence—choosing a method rather than relying on impulsive desire.