Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.23: Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 23

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम् · The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

ते प्रसाद्य महात्मानं विषण्णवदनास्तदा ।

ऊचुः परमसन्त्रस्ता पितामहमिदं वचः ॥२३॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.39.23

Transliteration

te prasādya mahātmānaṁ viṣaṇṇavadanās tadā |

ūcuḥ paramasantrastāḥ pitāmaham idaṁ vacaḥ ||23||

Translation

Nachdem sie den großherzigen erquicklich gestimmt hatten, sprachen sie dann, mit niedergeschlagenem Gesicht und von großer Furcht ergriffen, diese Worte zu Pitāmaha.

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Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• प्रसाद्य: having propitiated
• प्रसाद्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having propitiated/pleased’

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् आत्मा’

• विषण्णवदनाः: with dejected faces
• विषण्णवदनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विषण्णं वदनं येषाम्’ = whose faces were dejected

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ऊचुः: they said
• ऊचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमसन्त्रस्ताः: extremely terrified
• परमसन्त्रस्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + सन्त्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘परमं सन्त्रस्ताः’ = extremely frightened

• पितामहम्: to Brahmā
• पितामहम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Context

With highly agitated minds and meloncholic faces, all of them approached magnanimous Brahma and having propitiated him said:

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Devas
• Gandharvas
• Asuras
• Nāgas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes proper approach: one seeks redress through reverence and truthful speech to a legitimate authority, not through retaliation.

What is the narrative situation?

The distressed beings formally address Brahmā after showing due respect, preparing to report the harm occurring below.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence and self-restraint: fear does not lead them to wrongdoing; it leads them to a lawful appeal.