Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 46, Shloka 16

दितितपः-शक्रपरिचर्या-गर्भभेदः

Diti’s Penance, Indra’s Service, and the Severing of the Embryo

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा दितिश्शक्रं प्राप्ते मध्यं दिवाकरे।निद्रयाऽपहृता देवी पादौ कृत्वाऽथ शीर्षत:।।1.46.16।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā ditiḥ śakraṃ prāpte madhyaṃ divākare | nidrayāpahṛtā devī pādau kṛtvā'tha śīrṣataḥ || 1.46.16 ||

Translation

فلما قالت ذلك لإندرا، وحين بلغَتِ الشمسُ كبدَ السماء، غلبَ النعاسُ الإلهةَ دِيتِي فنامت، وقد جعلت قدميها إلى جهة رأسها.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• दितिः: Diti
• दितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• शक्रम्: Indra
• शक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राप्ते: having reached (when reached)
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सप्तमी एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग?; here locative absolute with 'दिवाकरे' = 'when the sun had reached'

• मध्यम्: midpoint (midday)
• मध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object with implied 'प्राप्ते' (midpoint)

• दिवाकरे: when the sun
• दिवाकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; in locative absolute with 'प्राप्ते'

• निद्रया: by sleep
• निद्रया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• अपहृता: overcome/robbed (of awareness)
• अपहृता: Kriya (क्रियापद-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप + हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate of 'देवी'

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• पादौ: feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन

• कृत्वा: having placed/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/अनन्तर (particle)

• शीर्षतः: at the head-side
• शीर्षतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'at/near the head-side'

Context

After speaking thus to Indra, goddess Diti overpowered with sleep around mids-day dropped off, her feet towards her head.

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Śakra (Indra)
• Divākara (Sun)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights vigilance and self-discipline: even a small lapse (falling asleep in an improper posture) can create an opening for harm. Dharma here is careful observance and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

After speaking to Indra, Diti becomes drowsy at midday and sleeps in an inauspicious/impure posture, setting up the next action by Indra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied virtue is alertness (apramāda). The verse foreshadows how negligence can undermine one’s intended purpose.