Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 22

विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना

Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection

Devanagari script

अहंनियममातिष्ठे सिध्यर्थं पुरुषर्षभ।

तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ कामरूपिणौ।।

Transliteration

ahaṃ niyamam ātiṣṭhe sidhyarthaṃ puruṣarṣabha | tasya vighnakarau dvau tu rākṣasau kāmarūpiṇau ||

Translation

Ô meilleur des hommes, j’ai entrepris une austère observance sacrée afin que mon rite s’accomplisse ; mais deux rākṣasas, changeant de forme à leur gré, y font obstacle.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• hṛdaya: heart
• hṛdaya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (as first member in compound sense)

• mano: mind
• mano: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular (as compound member)

• vidāraṇam: rending
• vidāraṇam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used adjectivally with preceding members

• muni: of the sage
• muni: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive sense as first member (compound-style)

• vacanam: speech/words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (अतीव)

• śuśruvān: having heard
• śuśruvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Perfect active participle (लिट्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nara-patiḥ: king
• nara-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'narāṇām patiḥ'

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• mahān: great
• mahān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahātmā: great-souled
• mahātmā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'mahān ātmā yasya'

• vyathita: distressed
• vyathita: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyathita (कृदन्त; √vyath धातु PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (used with manāḥ)

• manāḥ: (one) with mind
• manāḥ: Visheshya (विशेष्य/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (epic usage for 'one whose mind...'), Nominative, Singular; used as bahuvrīhi-like predicate with vyathita

• pracacāla: trembled/moved
• pracacāla: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cal (चल् धातु) with pra-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• āsanāt: from the seat
• āsanāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• rākṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma here includes safeguarding sacred rites and ascetic observances; when adharma disrupts yajña, righteous power and royal support are called upon to protect it.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra explains that his ongoing observance aimed at completing a sacrificial rite is being obstructed by two shape-shifting demons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s tapas and niyama (disciplined vow) are highlighted, along with the implied duty of rulers to protect such dharmic acts.