Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.20: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 20

बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

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

Devanagari script

तेषां निग्रहणे शक्तस्स्वयं च कुशिकात्मज:।तव पुत्रहितार्थाय त्वामुपेत्याभियाचते।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 1.21.20

Transliteration

teṣāṃ nigrahaṇe śaktaḥ svayaṃ ca kuśikātmajaḥ |

tava putra-hitārthāya tvām upetyābhiyācate ||

Translation

Bien que le fils de Kuśika soit lui-même capable de les maîtriser, il est venu à toi et te le demande, pour le bien et l’avantage de ton fils.

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Word by Word

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nigrahaṇe: in restraining/subduing
• nigrahaṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigrahaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• śaktaḥ: capable
• śaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √śak)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः (indeclinable: 'himself')

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

• kuśika-ātmajaḥ: the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśika-ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• putra-hita-arthāya: for your son's welfare
• putra-hita-arthāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative chain: 'for the purpose of the son's welfare'); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• upetya: having approached
• upetya: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (इ, धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having first reached)

• abhiyācate: requests/begs
• abhiyācate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√yāc (याच्, धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

Context

At the sight of the wise sage Viswamitra seized of wrath, the entire earth shook and devatas were gripped in fear.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Daśaratha
• Viśvāmitra
• Kuśika
• Rāma
• Rakṣasas

FAQs

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

Dharma includes forming the next protector of order. The request is framed not as Viśvāmitra’s need, but as Rāma’s welfare—training aligned with righteous purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha explains that Viśvāmitra’s request for Rāma is intentional: it serves Rāma’s development while addressing the rakṣasa threat.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s foresight and benevolence—guiding a prince into dharmic responsibility rather than merely solving a problem alone.