Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 24

बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः

Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

तदेतत्समवेक्ष्याहं प्रसन्नेन्द्रियमानस:।तपो महत्समास्थास्ये यद्वै ब्रह्मत्वकारणम्।।।।

Transliteration

tad etat samavekṣyāhaṃ prasannendriyamānasaḥ |

tapo mahat samāsthāsye yad vai brahmatvakāraṇam ||

Translation

Ayant contemplé cela clairement, l’esprit et les sens apaisés, j’entreprendrai une grande austérité, celle-là même qui est la cause d’atteindre l’état de brahmane.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• samavekṣya: having observed
• samavekṣya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ava-īkṣ (धातु) → samavekṣya (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचन (Nominative sg)

• prasanna-indriya-mānasaḥ: with serene senses and mind
• prasanna-indriya-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (descriptive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg), विशेषणम् (qualifying 'aham')

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg), विशेषणम् (qualifying 'tapaḥ')

• samāsthāsye: I shall undertake
• samāsthāsye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sthā (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• brahmatva-kāraṇam: cause of brahminhood
• brahmatva-kāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmatva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

Context

"O Descendent of Raghu! Viswamitra employed weapons like manava, mohana, gandharva, swapana, jrimbhana, madana, santapana, vilapana, shoshana, darana, vajra weapons, Brahma, kala and varuna pasas, the favourite painaka, daita, shushka, ardra vajras, danda, paisacha, krauncha, weapons, dharmachakra, kalachakra, vishnuchakras, vayavya, mathana, hayasira weapons, kanakala, musala powers,vaidyadhara, kalatrishula, kapala, kankana weapons discharged against Vasishta the best of ascetics. All this became aweful.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Tapas

FAQs

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

Dharma allows moral ascent through disciplined effort; transformation comes from tapas guided by truthfully acknowledging one’s limitations.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra, after defeat, resolves to pursue great austerities to attain the status and qualities of brahminhood.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve (saṅkalpa) and self-discipline—turning humiliation into a sincere commitment to inner growth.