Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

उत्पपाताग्निसङ्काशं हालाहलमहाविषम्।तेन दग्धं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्।।।।

Transliteration

utpapātāgnisaṅkāśaṃ hālāhalamahāviṣam | tena dagdhaṃ jagat sarvaṃ sa-devāsuramānuṣam ||

Translation

Then there sprang forth the great poison Hālāhala, blazing like fire; by it the entire world—gods, asuras, and humans—was scorched.

Word by Word

• utpapāta: sprang up
• utpapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: उत्√पत् (to spring up/leap forth)

• agni-saṅkāśam: fire-like
• agni-saṅkāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (upamā/determinative): अग्निसदृशम् (resembling fire); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• hālāhala-mahāviṣam: the great poison Hālāhala
• hālāhala-mahāviṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hālāhala (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive): महत् विषम् (great poison) नाम्ना हालाहलम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun) तद्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (by that)

• dagdham: was burnt
• dagdham: Kriyā (क्रिया/परिणाम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); धातु: √दह् (to burn); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे भाव/कर्मवाच्य (was burnt)

• jagat: the world
• jagat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarvam: entire
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of जगत्)

• sa-deva-asura-mānuṣam: including gods, asuras, and humans
• sa-deva-asura-mānuṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative) with सह (sa-): देवाः च असुराः च मानुषाः च (together with gods, demons, and humans); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of जगत्)

Context

Therefrom was produced hala-hala, virulent venom resembling fire.The entire universe consisting of devatas, asuras and mortals was burnt down.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

Dharma includes responsibility for unintended consequences: even a sacred enterprise can release danger, requiring wise guardianship and collective accountability.

What is the narrative situation?

During the churning of the ocean, the first product is the lethal poison Hālāhala, threatening all realms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective vigilance: the cosmic community must recognize peril quickly and seek rightful protection.