Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 5

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

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

Devanagari script

तामादाय तु मञ्जूषामायसीं यत्र तद्धनु:।सुरोपमं ते जनकमूचुर्नृपतिमन्त्रिण:।।।।

Transliteration

tām ādāya tu mañjūṣām āyasīṃ yatra tad dhanuḥ | suropamaṃ te janakam ūcur nṛpati-mantriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Nachdem sie die eiserne Truhe herbeigebracht hatten, in der jener Bogen verwahrt war, sprachen die königlichen Ratgeber zu Janaka, dessen Hoheit einem Deva glich.

Word by Word

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Accusative, Singular; refers to mañjūṣām

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√dā (दा धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive in -ya (ल्यप्), indeclinable; "having taken"

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• mañjūṣām: the chest/box
• mañjūṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mañjūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• āyasīm: iron (made of iron)
• āyasīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with mañjūṣām

• yatra: where
• yatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय): "where"

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Nominative, Singular; with dhanuḥ

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) (location clause subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• sura-upamam: god-like
• sura-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifies janakam

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural; refers to nṛpatimantriṇaḥ

• janakam: Janaka
• janakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of ūcuḥ (addressed)

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

• nṛpati-mantriṇaḥ: the king's ministers
• nṛpati-mantriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक) + mantrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Context

The counsellors of the king, brought the iron casket containing the bow and said these words to Janaka comparable to a celestial:

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• ministers/counsellors
• the bow

FAQs

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

Dharma as reverent speech and decorum: even routine actions in sacred/royal contexts are performed with respect and proper address.

What is the narrative situation?

The bow’s container is brought; the ministers formally announce its arrival to Janaka.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Respectful conduct within governance—ministers uphold protocol when presenting a sacred royal heirloom.