Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 5

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

गता भगवती रात्रिश्श्रोतव्यं परमं श्रुतम्।क्षणभूतेव नौ रात्रि स्सम्वृत्तेयं महातप:।।।।इमां चिन्तयतस्सर्वां निखिलेन कथां तव।

Transliteration

gatā bhagavatī rātriḥ śrotavyaṃ paramaṃ śrutam |

kṣaṇa-bhūteva nau rātriḥ samvṛtteyaṃ mahātapaḥ ||

imāṃ cintayatas sarvāṃ nikhilena kathāṃ tava |

Translation

O great ascetic, the blessed night has passed, and we have heard this supreme account worthy of hearing. As we both reflected upon your entire story in full, this night seemed to pass like a mere moment.

Word by Word

• गता: has passed
• गता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘gone/passed’

• भगवती: glorious; venerable
• भगवती: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of रात्रिः)

• रात्रिः: night
• रात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रोतव्यम्: worthy to be listened to
• श्रोतव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fit to be heard’

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्रुतम्: has been heard
• श्रुतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘has been heard’

• क्षणभूता: become like a moment
• क्षणभूता: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षण + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्षणं भूता)

• इव: as if; like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• नौ: for us two
• नौ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-द्विवचन (Genitive/Dative dual); here Genitive ‘for us two/of us two’

• रात्रिः: night
• रात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्वृत्ता: has become
• सम्वृत्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘has become/turned out’

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject determiner)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महातपः: O great ascetic
• महातपः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् तपः यस्य) as honorific address

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of thinking)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चिन्तयतः: of me while thinking
• चिन्तयतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तय् (धातु) शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘of (me) thinking’

• सर्वाम्: entire
• सर्वाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of कथाम्)

• निखिलेन: completely
• निखिलेन: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially: ‘completely’)

• कथाम्: story
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

Context

"O Noble ascetic! we have heard this great story worthy to be listened. As we both lay pondering over the entire story (narrated by you), the glorious night passed off just like a moment.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Śravaṇa and manana—listening to righteous tradition and reflecting on it—are themselves dharmic acts; truth-bearing narratives shape conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing Viśvāmitra’s long narration through the night, Rāma acknowledges the value of the teaching and the night’s swift passing in reflection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śraddhā and attentiveness: Rāma shows reverence for instruction and thoughtful contemplation rather than casual curiosity.