Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 20

बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः

Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

ततोऽस्तुवन् मुनिगणा वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्।अमोघं ते बलं ब्रह्मन् तेजो धारय तेजसा।।।।

Transliteration

tato ’stuvan munigaṇā vasiṣṭhaṃ japatāṃ varam |

amoghaṃ te balaṃ brahman tejo dhāraya tejasā ||

Translation

তখন মুনিগণ জপনিষ্ঠদের শ্রেষ্ঠ বশিষ্ঠকে স্তব করলেন—“হে ব্রহ্মন! আপনার বল অমোঘ; আপনারই তেজে আপনার তেজ ধারণ করুন।”

Word by Word

• निगृहीतः: restrained
• निगृहीतः: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective of Viśvāmitraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे 'controlled/restrained'

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (नामधेय: 'whose friend is the world' / proper name)

• महातपाः: great ascetic
• महातपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ('one of great austerity'); विशेषणम् (विश्वामित्रः)

• प्रसीद: be pleased
• प्रसीद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जपताम्: of the chanters/ascetics
• जपताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• श्रेष्ठ: O best
• श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• लोकाः: worlds
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सन्तु: let (them) be
• सन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गतव्यथाः: free from distress
• गतव्यथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; गम्+क्त) + व्यथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि ('whose distress has gone'); विशेषणम् (लोकाः)

Context

"O wicked kshatriya! O son of Gadhi! here I stand. Show me your strength and the pride of your arms. I will destroy them now.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Japa

FAQs

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

Even rightful power must be governed by self-restraint; Dharma values control of one’s own tejas to prevent harm to the world.

What is the narrative situation?

After the conflict, sages intervene and urge Vasiṣṭha to restrain his spiritual energy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṣānti and self-mastery—power that can destroy is praised most when it can also be restrained.