Shloka 2.118.40

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा (Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative)

Devanagari script

असञ्चाल्यं मनुष्यैश्च यत्नेनापि च गौरवात्।तन्न शक्ता नमयितुं स्वप्नेष्वपि नराधिपाः।।2.118.40।।

Transliteration

asañcālyaṃ manuṣyaiś ca yatnenāpi ca gauravāt | tan na śaktā namayituṃ svapneṣv api narādhipāḥ || 2.118.40 ||

Translation

So heavy was that bow that no man could even move it, despite great effort; and the kings were unable to bend it—not even in their dreams.

Context

Because of its weight, no human could move that bow despite great effort nor were the kings capable of bending it even in their dreams.

Characters & Entities

• kings (narādhipāḥ)
• the divine bow (Śiva’s bow/Pināka implied by context)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit: true worth is proven by capability and righteousness, not by status. Even kings cannot accomplish what is beyond their strength and merit.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā recounts the earlier svayaṃvara context: the bow was so heavy that assembled rulers could neither move nor bend it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s exceptional strength guided by restraint (maryādā) is foreshadowed by contrasting it with the inability of other rulers.