Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 21

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Devanagari script

एवं पापसमाचारस्सज्जनप्रतिबाधक:।।।।पौराणामहिते युक्त: पुत्रो निर्वासित: पुरात्।

Transliteration

evaṃ pāpasamācāraḥ sajjanapratibādhakaḥ | paurāṇām ahite yuktaḥ putro nirvāsitaḥ purāt ||

Translation

Así, por su conducta pecaminosa, por hostigar a los virtuosos y por buscar el mal de los ciudadanos, aquel hijo fue desterrado de la ciudad desde antiguo.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• पाप-समाचारः: one of evil conduct
• पाप-समाचारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + samācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (pāpasya samācāraḥ = conduct of evil)

• सज्जन-प्रतिबाधकः: tormentor of the good
• सज्जन-प्रतिबाधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + pratibādhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sajjanānāṃ pratibādhakaḥ = tormentor of good people)

• पौराणाम्: of the citizens
• पौराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• अहिते: in harmful acts
• अहिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (locative singular); ‘अहित’ = harmful act/ill

• युक्तः: engaged (in)
• युक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘युक्त/रत’ = engaged, devoted

• पुत्रः: the son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्वासितः: was banished
• निर्वासितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√vas (धातु) → nirvāsita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः ‘was banished’

• पुरात्: from the city/capital
• पुरात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purāt (अव्यय/तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादानार्थक (ablatival adverb, ‘from’)

Context

Thus this son inclined towards evil and formenting the good citizens was banished (of the king) from the capital for his indulgence in malevolent acts.

Characters & Entities

• Asamañjasa (implied)
• Citizens (paurāḥ)

FAQs

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

Rāja-dharma prioritizes public welfare: when a prince becomes a threat to citizens and the virtuous, the king must act to protect society, even through painful measures like banishment.

What is the narrative situation?

Asamañjasa’s repeated wrongdoing leads to a decisive political and moral response—his expulsion from the capital.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Justice and impartiality in governance: kinship does not excuse harm to the public.