Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.17 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 17

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon-Lore

Devanagari script

सुप्रभाऽजनयच्चापि पुत्रान्पञ्चाशतं पुन:।संहारान्नामदुर्धर्षान् दुराक्रामान् बलीयस:।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.17

Transliteration

suprabhā ’janayac cāpi putrān pañcāśataṃ punaḥ | saṃhārān nāma durdharṣān durākrāmān balīyasaḥ ||

Translation

Suprabhā enfanta aussi cinquante autres fils, appelés les Saṃhāras—invincibles, difficiles à vaincre et d’une puissance redoutable.

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Word by Word

• suprabhā: Suprabhā
• suprabhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suprabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ajanayat: gave birth to
• ajanayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन्, धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), causative sense not intended here (simple 'gave birth')

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक (particle: 'also')

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pañcāśatam: fifty
• pañcāśatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'again')

• saṃhārān: Saṃhāras (by name)
• saṃhārān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable: 'by name')

• durdharṣān: unassailable
• durdharṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durdharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् to saṃhārān/putrān

• durākrāmān: hard to overcome
• durākrāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durākrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम्

• balīyasaḥ: stronger/more powerful
• balīyasaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative of balin)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative adjective)

Context

Suprabha gave birth to another fifty sons named Samharas who are unassailable, invincible and more powerful.

Characters & Entities

• Suprabhā

FAQs

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

It reinforces the idea that overwhelming force exists within a dharmic narrative as a controlled instrument—meant to counter disorder when guided by righteous authority.

What is the narrative situation?

The mythic account concludes this segment by describing Suprabhā’s additional fifty sons, the Saṃhāras, noted for irresistible power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Invincibility under discipline—strength portrayed as effective when aligned with a rightful mission.