Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 1

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

.जनकस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि: ।धनुर्दर्शय रामाय इति होवाच पार्थिवम्।।।।

Transliteration

janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ | dhanur darśaya rāmāya iti hovāca pārthivam || 1.67.1 ||

Translation

Als der große Weise Viśvāmitra Janakas Worte vernommen hatte, sprach er zum König: „Zeige Rāma den Bogen.“

Word by Word

• janakasya: of Janaka
• janakasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form; prior action

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahāmuniḥ: the great sage
• mahāmuniḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to viśvāmitraḥ

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

• darśaya: show
• darśaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त), Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• rāmāya: to Rama
• rāmāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking direct speech

• ha: indeed
• ha: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), narrative/emphatic

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• pārthivam: the king
• pārthivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of uvāca (addressed)

Context

At the words of Janaka, great ascetic Viswamitra said to the king, "Let the bow be shown to Rama".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Janaka
• Rāma
• the bow (Śiva-dhanus / Pināka)

FAQs

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

Dharma of rightful testing: a guru directs the proper unfolding of events, ensuring that power and worth are revealed through sanctioned means rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

After Janaka’s explanation begins, Viśvāmitra formally asks that the bow be presented to Rāma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s discernment and leadership—he steers the courtly process with authority and purpose.