Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 36, Shloka 1

बालकाण्ड सर्ग ३६

गङ्गा-प्रभवप्रश्नः, शिवतेजोधारणं, कार्त्तिकेय-जन्म, उमाशापः

Devanagari script

उक्तवाक्ये मुनौ तस्मिन्नुभौ राघवलक्ष्मणौ।प्रतिनन्द्य कथां वीरावूचतुर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।।।

Transliteration

uktavākye munau tasminn ubhau rāghava-lakṣmaṇau |

pratinandya kathāṃ vīrāv ūcatur muni-puṅgavam ||1.36.1||

Translation

Quand ce sage eut parlé, les deux héros, Rāma et Lakṣmaṇa, réjouis par le récit, s’adressèrent au plus éminent des ascètes, Viśvāmitra.

Word by Word

• उक्तवाक्ये: when (his) words were spoken / after the speech
• उक्तवाक्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): uktaṃ vākyaṃ yena/यत्र (कर्मधारय-प्राय). Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying मुनौ

• मुनौ: in/with the sage
• मुनौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• तस्मिन्: in that (one)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); correlating with मुनौ

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun/adjective-like (सर्वनाम-प्राय), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• राघवलक्ष्मणौ: Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
• राघवलक्ष्मणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava + lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva-samāsa (द्वन्द्व): rāghavaś ca lakṣmaṇaś ca. Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• प्रतिनन्द्य: having praised / having welcomed
• प्रतिनन्द्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-nand (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव), expressing prior action

• कथाम्: the story
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); apposition to उभौ राघवलक्ष्मणौ

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• मुनिपुङ्गवम्: the foremost of sages
• मुनिपुङ्गवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): munīnām puṅgavaḥ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष). Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Context

While Viswamitra pre-eminent ascetic among the sages was telling the story (of Ganga) to the heroic Rama and Lakshmana, they extolled it and enquired:

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma values respectful inquiry: listening with appreciation and then asking questions of the worthy teacher to deepen understanding.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing the sage’s narration, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa respond appreciatively and begin to question Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Teachability and humility—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa honor the discourse and seek clarification through proper address.