Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.12 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 12

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

गतिं पुत्रा: न पश्यामि रक्षसां परुषर्षभा:।मन्त्रपूतैर्महाभागैरास्थितो हि महाक्रतु:।।1.39.12।।

Transliteration

gatiṁ putrāḥ na paśyāmi rakṣasāṁ paruṣarṣabhāḥ |

mantrapūtair mahābhāgair āsthito hi mahākratuḥ ||1.39.12||

Translation

«Mes fils, les meilleurs des hommes, je ne vois aucune voie par laquelle les rākṣasas puissent pénétrer ici, car ce grand kratu est gardé par des mantras consacrés et accompli sous des prêtres éminents.»

Word by Word

• गतिम्: way/means/trace
• गतिम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object of paśyāmi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुत्राः: O sons
• पुत्राः: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• पश्यामि: I see/find
• पश्यामि: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्षसाम्: of the rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter; collective), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• परुष-ऋषभाः: O best of men
• परुष-ऋषभाः: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: 'परुषाः ऋषभाः' (best among men); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मन्त्र-पूतैः: purified by mantras
• मन्त्र-पूतैः: करण (करण/Instrument; agentive instrument in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √पू)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'मन्त्रैः पूतैः' (purified by mantras); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण to महाभागैः

• महाभागैः: by the eminent (priests)
• महाभागैः: करण (करण/Instrument; by eminent ones)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आस्थितः: is presided over/established
• आस्थितः: क्रिया-विशेषण (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; predicate to महाक्रतुः

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कारण/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• महा-क्रतुः: the great sacrifice
• महा-क्रतुः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: 'महान् क्रतुः'; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

'Therefore my sons, go and search this entire earth surrounded by oceans. May you be safe'.

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• rākṣasas
• mantras

FAQs

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

Dharma is discernment grounded in truth: Sagara reasons that a properly consecrated rite, upheld by qualified priests, should not be vulnerable—so the search must proceed beyond blaming unseen forces.

What is the narrative situation?

Sagara reassures his sons that the sacrifice is ritually secured and implies the disturbance (the missing horse) must be investigated through action rather than assumption.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence and confidence in dharmic procedure—trust in mantra and priestly guardianship paired with a rational assessment of the situation.