Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 20

शतानन्दोपदेशः

Śatānanda’s Welcome to Rāma and the Prelude to Viśvāmitra’s History

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रो महातेजा: पालयामास मेदिनीम्।बहुवर्षसहस्राणि राजा राज्यमकारयत्।।।।

Transliteration

viśvāmitro mahātejāḥ pālayāmāsa medinīm |

bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi rājā rājyam akārayat ||

Translation

Viśvāmitra, rayonnant d’une grande vigueur, protégea la terre ; en roi, il gouverna son royaume durant de nombreux milliers d’années.

Word by Word

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-tejas (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + तेजस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) of विश्वामित्रः

• पालयामास: ruled / protected
• पालयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• मेदिनीम्: the earth
• मेदिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बहु-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: for many thousands of years
• बहु-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu + varṣa + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative) (काल-अत्यन्तसंयोगे; duration), बहुवचन (Plural)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to विश्वामित्रः

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अकारयत्: caused to be governed / administered
• अकारयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारयति]
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Context

Highly lustrous Viswamitra ruled the earth. As a king he ruled over his kingdom for thousands of years.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Medinī (earth)

FAQs

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

Kingship is framed as protection (pālana): dharma for a ruler is guardianship of the earth and just administration over time.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra recounts his long reign to establish his former royal status before his later ascetic transformation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steady governance—endurance, responsibility, and protective leadership.