Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 12

रम्भा

प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

यन्मां लोभयसे रम्भे कामक्रोधजयैषिणम्।दशवर्षसहस्राणि शैली स्थास्यसि दुर्भगे ।।1.64.12।।

Transliteration

yan māṃ lobhayase rambhe kāmakrodhajayaiṣiṇam | daśavarṣasahasrāṇi śailī sthāsyasi durbhage || 1.64.12 ||

Translation

“Since you, Rambhā—wretched one—have tried to entice me while I strive to conquer desire and anger, you shall become a rock and remain so for ten thousand years.”

Word by Word

• yat: since/because
• yat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (relative particle) कारणार्थे—"because/since"

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• lobhayase: you tempt
• lobhayase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lubh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; causative sense in usage—"you tempt/seduce"

• rambhe: O Rambhā
• rambhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rambhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• kāmakrodhajayaiṣiṇam: seeking victory over desire and anger
• kāmakrodhajayaiṣiṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + krodha + jaya + eṣin (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—"कामक्रोधयोः जयम् एषते"; विशेषणम्—माम्

• daśavarṣasahasrāṇi: ten thousand years
• daśavarṣasahasrāṇi: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + varṣa + sahasra (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः—"दश सहस्राणि वर्षाणि" (ten thousand years)

• śailī: a rock (rock-formed)
• śailī: Pradhāna-vākya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śailī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)—"as a rock"

• sthāsyasi: you will remain/become
• sthāsyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• durbhage: O unfortunate one
• durbhage: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durbhagā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; निन्दार्थक सम्बोधन

Context

'O luckless Rambha, since you have endeavoured to distract me from my desire to conquer wrath and passion, you shall turn into a rock and remain so for ten thousand years'.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rambhā

FAQs

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

Dharma is framed as conquest of kāma and krodha; the verse also cautions that punishment issued in anger can itself be a deviation from righteous restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra pronounces a curse on Rambhā for attempting to disrupt his austerities and inner discipline.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The ideal of self-mastery (jaya over desire and anger) is explicitly stated—though the narrative simultaneously shows how difficult that virtue is to uphold.