Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.6 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 6

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

तस्याश्वचर्यां काकुत्स्थ दृढधन्वा महारथ:।अंशुमानकरोत्तात सगरस्य मते स्थित:।।1.39.6।।

Transliteration

tasyāśvacaryāṁ kākutstha dṛḍhadhanvā mahārathaḥ |

aṁśumān akarot tāta sagarasya mate sthitaḥ || 1.39.6 ||

Translation

Oh Kakutstha, querido hijo: Aṁśumān, el gran guerrero del carro, de arco firme, emprendió la custodia y el seguimiento del caballo del sacrificio, permaneciendo fiel al mandato de Sagara.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of that (sacrifice)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अश्व-चर्याम्: the horse-guarding/following
• अश्व-चर्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + caryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (aśvasya caryā = following/guarding the horse)

• काकुत्स्थ: O Kakutstha
• काकुत्स्थ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākutstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• दृढ-धन्वा: strong-bowed
• दृढ-धन्वा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (dṛḍhaṃ dhanur yasya saḥ)

• महा-रथः: great charioteer
• महा-रथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahān rathaḥ/mahārathaḥ = great charioteer)

• अंशुमान्: Aṃśumān
• अंशुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśumant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अकरोत्: did, carried out
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तात: O dear (child)
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन; स्नेहसम्बोधन

• सगरस्य: of Sagara
• सगरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मते: in accordance with the wish
• मते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘मत’ = opinion/wish

• स्थितः: abiding, standing
• स्थितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) → sthita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये ‘abiding/standing’

Context

With highly agitated minds and meloncholic faces, all of them approached magnanimous Brahma and having propitiated him said:

Characters & Entities

• Aṁśumān
• Sagara
• Sacrificial horse (aśva)

FAQs

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

Dharma as duty and loyalty: Aṁśumān fulfills the king’s directive to protect the yajña, placing responsibility above personal ease.

What is the narrative situation?

Sagara assigns Aṁśumān to accompany and safeguard the sacrificial horse as part of the ritual’s successful completion.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast obedience and readiness (vīrya): Aṁśumān acts promptly and remains aligned with Sagara’s intent.