Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 1, Shloka 17

श्रीमद्रामायणकथासङ्क्षेपः / The Ramayana in Synopsis

Narada’s Summary to Valmiki

Devanagari script

स च सर्वगुणोपेत: कौसल्यानन्दवर्धन: ।समुद्र इव गाम्भीर्ये धैर्येण हिमवानिव ।।।।

Transliteration

sa ca sarvaguṇopetaḥ kausalyānandavardhanaḥ | samudra iva gāmbhīrye dhairyeṇa himavān iva ||

Translation

Et lui, doté de toutes les vertus et augmentant la joie de Kauśalyā, était tel l’océan par sa profondeur, et tel l’Himavān par son courage inébranlable.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता) — subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सर्व-गुण-उपेतः: endowed with all virtues
• सर्व-गुण-उपेतः: Karta (कर्ता) — qualifier of ‘सः’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गुण + उपेत (कृदन्त; √इ with उप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वैः गुणैः उपेतः’

• कौसल्या-आनन्द-वर्धनः: increaser of Kausalyā’s joy
• कौसल्या-आनन्द-वर्धनः: Karta (कर्ता) — qualifier of ‘सः’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौसल्या + आनन्द + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक; from √वृध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘कौसल्यायाः आनन्दं वर्धयति’

• समुद्रः: ocean
• समुद्रः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• गाम्भीर्ये: in depth (of character)
• गाम्भीर्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) — respect/domain (‘in depth’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाम्भीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• धैर्येण: by fortitude
• धैर्येण: Karana (करण) — by/with fortitude
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• हिमवान्: Himavat (Himalaya)
• हिमवान्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (Himālaya)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

Context

Sri Rama, bestowed with all virtues, enhanced the joys of Kausalya, He is like the sea in deportment and like Himavant in fortitude.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Kauśalyā
• Samudra (ocean)
• Himavān (Himalaya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented as inner excellence: depth of mind (gāmbhīrya) and unwavering steadiness (dhairya) that support righteous conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Nārada is summarizing Rāma’s character to Vālmīki, describing the virtues that make him the ideal bearer of dharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Grave depth of thought (like the ocean) and steadfast fortitude (like the Himalaya).