Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 63, Shloka 16

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

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

Devanagari script

आमन्त्रयन् समागम्य सर्वे सर्षिगणा स्सुरा:।महर्षिशब्दं लभतां साध्वयं कुशिकात्मज:।।।।

Transliteration

āmantrayan samāgamya sarve sarṣigaṇāḥ surāḥ | maharṣiśabdaṃ labhatāṃ sādhv ayaṃ kuśikātmajaḥ ||

Translation

After assembling and deliberating together, all the gods along with the hosts of seers concluded: “Rightly should this son of Kuśika attain the title of Maharṣi.”

Word by Word

• āmantrayan: consulting/deliberating
• āmantrayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√mantr (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), प्रथमा, एकवचन/बहुवचन सन्दर्भे; अत्र बहुवचनार्थे—"(they) deliberating/consulting"

• samāgamya: having assembled
• samāgamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); "having assembled"

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—सुराः

• sarṣigaṇāḥ: along with hosts of sages
• sarṣigaṇāḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + ṛṣigaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः—"ऋषिगणैः सह" (together with groups of seers)

• surāḥ: the gods
• surāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• maharṣiśabdam: the title ‘Maharṣi’
• maharṣiśabdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi + śabda (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"महर्षेः शब्दः" = title/epithet

• labhatām: let (him) obtain
• labhatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; अत्र आज्ञार्थे/आशीर्लिङ्गार्थे—"let him obtain"

• sādhu: rightly
• sādhu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sādhu (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रशंसार्थक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: rightly/well)

• ayam: this (man)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

• kuśikātmajaḥ: son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśikātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Context

After consultations the gods and sages decided that this son of Kushika (Viswamitra) deserved the status of a Maharshi".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (Kuśikātmaja)
• Surāḥ (Devas)

FAQs

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

Dharma here affirms that honor and status should follow proven merit—especially disciplined tapas and righteous striving—rather than mere birth or prior rank.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods and assembled sages meet and decide that Viśvāmitra, the son of Kuśika, deserves formal recognition as a Maharṣi.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance in tapas (austerity) leading to deserved recognition; the virtue of earned spiritual authority.