Valmiki Ramayana 1.25.4 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 4

ताटकावृत्तान्तः

The Account of Tāṭakā and the Royal Duty to Protect

Devanagari script

पूर्वमासीन्महायक्षस्सुकेतुर्नाम वीर्यवान्।अनपत्यश्शुभाचारस्स च तेपे महत्तप:।।।।

Transliteration

pūrvam āsīn mahāyakṣaḥ suketur nāma vīryavān | anapatyaḥ śubhācāraḥ sa ca tepe mahat tapaḥ ||

Translation

En tiempos antiguos vivía un poderoso Yakṣa llamado Suketu: valiente, de conducta virtuosa, pero sin descendencia; y emprendió grandes austeridades.

Word by Word

• pūrvam: formerly/earlier
• pūrvam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय), Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb/कालवाचक अव्यय)

• āsīt: was/existed
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahāyakṣaḥ: a great yakṣa
• mahāyakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारय) = mahā-yakṣa; Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• suketuḥ: Suketu
• suketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• nāma: named/by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Name-marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय), Nāma-śabda used as particle meaning 'by name'

• vīryavān: powerful
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• anapatyaḥ: childless
• anapatyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-apatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• śubhācāraḥ: of good conduct
• śubhācāraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष) = śubha-ācāra; Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (Pronoun/सर्वनाम), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (Indeclinable/अव्यय), Samuccaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• tepe: performed (austerities)
• tepe: Kriyā (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया) Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

Context

Viswamitra said, "Listen, how she acquired the prowess and strength by virtue of a boon she received.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Suketu
• Yakṣa

FAQs

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

Tapas (disciplined austerity) is portrayed as a legitimate means to pursue life aims; it also foreshadows how power can arise and must later be governed by dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra starts Tātakā’s lineage/history by introducing Suketu, a childless Yakṣa who performs great penance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Perseverance and disciplined effort (tapas) in pursuit of a desired end.