Valmiki Ramayana 1.63.14 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 14

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status

Devanagari script

स कृत्वा नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं जेतुकामो महायशा:।कौशिकीतीरमासाद्य तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्।।।।

Transliteration

sa kṛtvā naiṣṭhikīṃ buddhiṃ jetu-kāmo mahāyaśāḥ | kauśikī-tīram āsādya tapas tepe sudāruṇam ||

Translation

He, of great renown, resolved upon lifelong continence, longing to conquer his senses; reaching the bank of the Kauśikī, he undertook austerities of utmost severity.

Word by Word

• āmantrayan: deliberating / consulting
• āmantrayan: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantr (धातु) with ā- (उपसर्ग) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Kṛdanta present participle (शतृ), masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) plural; agrees with surāḥ

• samāgamya: having assembled
• samāgamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) with sam-ā- (उपसर्ग) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having assembled’

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) plural; agrees with surāḥ

• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇāḥ: along with hosts of sages
• sa-ṛṣi-gaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (सह-समास/‘with’) ‘with groups of ṛṣis’; masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) plural; qualifies surāḥ

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) plural

• maharṣi-śabdam: the title ‘Maharṣi’
• maharṣi-śabdam: Karma (कर्म/object of labhatām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (determinative) ‘the word/title “Maharṣi”’; masculine, accusative (द्वितीया) singular

• labhatām: let (him) obtain
• labhatām: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative/benedictive sense), 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष) singular; ātmanepada; ‘let him obtain’

• sādhu: rightly, well
• sādhu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, approbative particle ‘well/rightly’

• ayam: this (man)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/subject of labhatām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-subanta, masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular

• kuśika-ātmajaḥ: the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśika-ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘son of Kuśika’; masculine, nominative (प्रथमा) singular; apposition to ayam

Context

Illustrious Viswamitra took a vow of celibacy in order to control his senses. And performed rigid austerities on reaching the bank of river Kausiki.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Kauśikī (river)

FAQs

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

Dharma is disciplined self-governance: after recognizing a lapse, one must establish firm vows (naiṣṭhikī buddhi) and pursue self-mastery rather than blaming external forces.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra renews his spiritual program by adopting strict continence and undertaking harsher austerities on the Kauśikī’s bank.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Brahmacarya and determination—turning repentance into concrete, sustained practice.