Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.25 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 25

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

अयं यज्ञहरोऽस्माकमनेनाश्वोऽपनीयते।इति ते सर्वभूतानि निघ्नन्ति सगरात्मजा:।।1.39.25।।

Transliteration

ayaṁ yajñaharo 'smākam anenāśvo 'panīyate |

iti te sarvabhūtāni nighnanti sagarātmajāḥ || 1.39.25 ||

Translation

«C’est lui qui détruit notre yajña ; par lui notre cheval a été emporté !»—pensant ainsi, les fils de Sagara frappent et tuent tous les êtres vivants.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यज्ञहरः: the sacrifice-stealer
• यज्ञहरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘यज्ञस्य हरः’ = stealer/destroyer of the sacrifice

• अस्माकम्: of us/our
• अस्माकम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of us/our’

• अनेन: by him
• अनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; ‘by him/with this’

• अश्वः: the horse
• अश्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपनीयते: is being carried off/stolen
• अपनीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• इति: thus (saying)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति निपात (quotative particle)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings
• सर्वभूतानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वाणि भूतानि’

• निघ्नन्ति: they strike down/kill
• निघ्नन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सगरात्मजाः: Sagara’s sons
• सगरात्मजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

Context

"O child, O son of the Kakutsthas, the great charioteer Anshuman (who can fight with eleven thousand charioteers), wielding a strong bow followed the sacrificial horse (in order to protect it) in compliance with Sagara's wish.

Characters & Entities

• Sagara’s sons
• Sacrifice (yajña)
• Sacrificial horse (aśva)
• All beings (sarvabhūtāni)

FAQs

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

Dharma demands truth and restraint: acting on suspicion and anger—without certainty—leads to adharma, especially when it results in harm to the innocent.

What is the narrative situation?

The petitioners report the sons of Sagara’s rationale: believing someone stole the sacrificial horse, they indiscriminately kill beings during the search.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse highlights the absence of discernment (viveka); it implicitly upholds the virtue of careful judgment before punishment.