Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 27, Shloka 20

अस्त्रप्रदानम्

Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama

Devanagari script

एतान् राम महाबाहो कामरूपान् महाबलान् ।गृहाण परमोदारान् क्षिप्रमेव नृपात्मज।।।।

Transliteration

etān rāma mahābāho kāmarūpān mahābalān |

gṛhāṇa paramodārān kṣipram eva nṛpātmaja ||

Translation

يا راما، يا عظيمَ الذراعين، أيها الأميرُ الجليلُ شديدُ البأس: خُذ سريعًا هذه الأسترات السامية الكريمة، القادرة على التشكّل بأي صورةٍ تُراد.

Word by Word

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + बाहु (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• कामरूपान्: able to assume forms at will
• कामरूपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + रूप (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: कामेन रूपम् (at will-form); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• महाबलान्: very powerful
• महाबलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā + बल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गृहाण: accept/take
• गृहाण: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• परमोदारान्: most excellent
• परमोदारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + उदार (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: परमाः उदाराः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• नृपात्मज: O prince
• नृपात्मज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Context

O Rama! mighty-armed prince, receive these mighty and highly exalted astras capable of assuming at once any form at will".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• astras (divine weapons)

FAQs

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

Dharma frames power as a trust: the more adaptable and mighty the instrument (kāmarūpa), the greater the need for principled restraint and truth-aligned intent.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra urges Rāma to accept the astras immediately, emphasizing their extraordinary, will-responsive nature.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness for duty: Rāma is being equipped for imminent protection of dharma (including safeguarding sages and rites).