Shloka 42

Adhiratha-Rādhā Discover the Casket; Vasuṣeṇa (Karṇa) is Adopted and Formed

Devanagari script

कौसल्यामातरिष्टांस्ते वरानद्य ददानि कान्‌ | यह सब हो जानेपर इन्द्र आदि देवताओंसहित ब्रह्माने भगवान्‌ रामसे कहा --'कौसल्यानन्दन! कहो, आज मैं तुम्हें कौन-कौनसे अभीष्ट वर प्रदान करूँ? ।। वत्रे राम: स्थितिं धर्मे शत्रुभिश्वापराजयम्‌

Transliteration

kausalyā-mātariṣṭāṁs te varān adya dadāni kān | yat sarvaṁ ho jāne para indra-ādi devatāoṁ-sahita brahmāne bhagavān rāma-se kahā— “kausalyā-nandana! kaho, āja maiṁ tumheṁ kauna-kaun se abhīṣṭa vara pradāna karūṁ?” || tatra rāmaḥ sthitiṁ dharme śatrubhiś cāparājayam

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “O son of Kausalyā, I shall grant you the boons you desire today.” When all this had come to pass, Brahmā—accompanied by Indra and the other gods—addressed Lord Rāma: “Delight of Kausalyā, speak: what cherished boons shall I bestow upon you today?” Thereupon Rāma asked for steadfastness in dharma and for invincibility against his enemies—seeking not self-indulgence, but the strength to uphold righteousness and complete his duty.

Word by Word

• कौसल्या: of Kausalyā
• कौसल्या: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• मातरि: in/with regard to (your) mother
• मातरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• इष्टान्: desired
• इष्टान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• वरान्: boons
• वरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• ददानि: I give
• ददानि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कान्: which (ones)?
• कान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वव्रे: chose/asked for
• वव्रे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थितिम्: steadfastness/abiding
• स्थितिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मे: in dharma/righteousness
• धर्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शत्रुभिः: by enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपराजयम्: non-defeat; invincibility
• अपराजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• Brahmā
• Indra
• Devas (gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that the highest boon is not pleasure or power for its own sake, but unwavering commitment to dharma and the capacity to overcome forces that oppose righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

After events have concluded, Brahmā—together with Indra and other gods—offers Rāma any desired boons. Rāma responds by requesting steadfastness in dharma and freedom from defeat by enemies.