Valmiki Ramayana 1.59.1 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 1

विश्वामित्रस्य शरणागति-प्रशंसा तथा वासिष्ठपुत्र-शापः

Visvamitra grants refuge; the curse upon Vasishta’s sons

Devanagari script

उक्तवाक्यं तु राजानं कृपया कुशिकात्मज:।अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं साक्षाच्चण्डालरूपिणम्।।1.59.1।।

Transliteration

uktavākyaṃ tu rājānaṃ kṛpayā kuśikātmajaḥ |

abravīn madhuraṃ vākyaṃ sākṣāc caṇḍālarūpiṇam ||

Translation

Da sprach Kuśikas Sohn Viśvāmitra, von Mitgefühl bewegt, mit sanften, süßen Worten zum König, dessen Caṇḍāla-Gestalt nun offen vor aller Augen stand.

Word by Word

• उक्त-वाक्यम्: (the king) who had spoken
• उक्त-वाक्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्त (कृदन्त, वच्-धातु) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (उक्तं वाक्यं यस्य) = 'one who has spoken'; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजानम्)

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृपया: out of compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुशिक-आत्मजः: son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• कुशिक-आत्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (कुशिकस्य आत्मजः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाक्यम्)

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

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = 'directly/manifestly'

• चण्डाल-रूपिणम्: having the form of a caṇḍāla
• चण्डाल-रूपिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (चण्डालस्य रूपं यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजानम्)

Context

What the king said was proved by his chandala form which the son of Kushika (Viswamitra) heard and out of compassion spoke these sweet words:

Characters & Entities

• Kuśika
• Viśvāmitra
• king (Triśaṅku)
• caṇḍāla

FAQs

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

Dharma includes compassion toward the fallen; even when consequences are visible, a sage may respond with kṛpā rather than contempt.

What is the narrative situation?

After the curse has transformed the king, Viśvāmitra encounters him and prepares to respond kindly.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kṛpā (compassion) and gentle speech as a dhārmic response to suffering.