Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.48 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 48

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण तद्धनुस्समुपानयत्।।2.118.47।।निमेषान्तरमात्रेण तदाऽनम्य महाबलः।ज्यां समारोप्य झडिति पूरयामास वीर्यवान्।।2.118.48।।

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ tena vipreṇa tad dhanuḥ samupānayat || 2.118.47 || nimeṣāntaramātreṇa tadā namya mahābalaḥ | jyāṃ samāropya jhaḍiti pūrayāmāsa vīryavān || 2.118.48 ||

Translation

So von jenem Weisen angesprochen, brachte mein Vater den Bogen herbei. Da beugte der mächtige, tapfere Rāma ihn, legte sogleich die Sehne an und spannte ihn—im Augenblick eines Lidschlags.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-समापन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/quotative particle (निपात, इति-प्रयोगः)

• uktaḥ: having been addressed/spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied state: ‘he, being addressed’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; passive sense ‘having been spoken/addressed’

• tena: by him/that (person)
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• vipreṇa: by the brahmin/ascetic
• vipreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun used adjectivally (सर्वनाम-विशेषण), Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular

• samupānayat: brought near/presented
• samupānayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-√nī (नी) (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

At the words of that ascetic, my father brought out the bow. Mighty and valiant Rama bent it and strung it and drew it in the twinkling of an eye.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Sītā’s father (Janaka implied)
• Rāma
• the divine bow (Śiva’s bow/Pināka implied)
• bowstring (jyā)

FAQs

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

Power becomes dharmic when exercised with composure and purpose: Rāma’s strength is shown as controlled, prompt, and respectful to the sacred setting.

What is the narrative situation?

At Viśvāmitra’s request, Janaka produces the bow; Rāma immediately bends, strings, and draws it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s competence joined with restraint—effortless mastery without arrogance.