Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.17 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 17

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

योजनायामविस्तारमेकैको धरणीतलम्।बिभिदु: परुषव्याघ्र वज्रस्पर्शसमैर्नखै:।।1.39.17।।

Transliteration

yojanāyāma-vistāram ekaiko dharaṇī-talam |

bibhiduḥ paruṣa-vyāghra vajra-sparśa-samair nakhaiḥ ||1.39.17||

Translation

Chacun d’eux prit une étendue de terre d’une yojana, ô tigre parmi les hommes, et déchira le sol de ses ongles, durs et tranchants comme le contact de la foudre.

Word by Word

• योजनायाम: in a yojana (measure)
• योजनायाम: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अविस्तारम्: an extent (of)
• अविस्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘विस्तार’ = extent, ‘अ-’ = negation/absence (here: ‘as much as an extent’)

• एकैकः: each one
• एकैकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound) अर्थे ‘each one’

• धरणीतलम्: the surface of the earth
• धरणीतलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धरण्याः तलम्)

• बिभिदुः: they split/broke open
• बिभिदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• परुषव्याघ्र: O tiger among men (O fierce one)
• परुषव्याघ्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परुष + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘fierce (man-)tiger’

• वज्रस्पर्शसमैः: with (those) like thunderbolt-touch
• वज्रस्पर्शसमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + स्पर्श + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः प्रयोगः ‘वज्रस्य स्पर्श इव समः’ = equal to thunderbolt-touch

• नखैः: with nails/claws
• नखैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

Context

O Son of the Raghus (Rama)! dreadful sounds emanated while the earth was being broken open by ploughs and lances similar to thunder-bolt.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (addressed)
• Sagara’s sons
• yojana
• earth (dharaṇī)
• vajra (thunderbolt)

FAQs

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

The verse implicitly tests dharma: immense power used in pursuit of duty can still become destructive if not moderated—strength must be governed by restraint and right judgment.

What is the narrative situation?

The princes begin an extreme search method—physically ripping and excavating the earth across assigned measured zones.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Determination and might—though the narrative foreshadows that uncontrolled force can lead to harm.