Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 14

रम्भा

प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।अशक्नुवन् धारयितुं क्रोधं सन्तापमागत:।।1.64.14।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ | aśaknuvan dhārayituṃ krodhaṃ santāpam āgataḥ || 1.64.14 ||

Translation

So sprach der machtvolle große Weise Viśvāmitra; da er seinen Zorn nicht zu zügeln vermochte, verfiel er in brennenden Schmerz und Reue.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• uktvā: having spoken
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); "having spoken"

• mahātejāḥ: the greatly radiant one
• mahātejāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः; कर्तृपद (apposition to viśvāmitraḥ)

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—"महान् मुनिः"; apposition

• aśaknuvan: being unable
• aśaknuvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नकारार्थे—"not being able"

• dhārayitum: to restrain
• dhārayitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); "to restrain/hold"

• krodham: anger
• krodham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म—धारयितुम्

• santāpam: distress
• santāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: santāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म—आगतः (experienced)

• āgataḥ: came to (was overcome by)
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used as finite-like predicate; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "having come to/entered" (experienced)

Context

The brilliant Viswamitra, the great ascetic, now experienced remorse for his inability to contain anger.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma is not only action but self-governance: recognizing one’s lapse and feeling remorse is the beginning of moral correction and renewed discipline.

What is the narrative situation?

Immediately after issuing the curse, Viśvāmitra realizes he failed to restrain anger and suffers inner anguish.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-awareness and repentance—an ethical sensibility that acknowledges wrongdoing rather than justifying it.