Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 1

शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः

Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

शुनश्शेफं नरश्रेष्ठ गृहीत्वा तु महायशा:।व्यश्राम्यत् पुष्करे राजा मध्याह्ने रघुनन्दन।।।।

Transliteration

śunaḥśephaṃ naraśreṣṭha gṛhītvā tu mahāyaśāḥ | vyaśrāmyat puṣkare rājā madhyāhne raghunandana ||

Translation

Ô le plus éminent des hommes, ô joie des Raghu : ayant pris avec lui Śunaḥśepha, le roi illustre se reposa à Puṣkara à l’heure de midi.

Word by Word

• ambarīṣaḥ: Ambarīṣa
• ambarīṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambarīṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Contrastive particle

• rājarṣī: the royal sage
• rājarṣī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa ‘royal sage’

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of āropya

• āropya: having mounted (on)
• āropya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), prior action ‘having mounted/placed (on)’

• satvaraḥ: hastily
• satvaraḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-tvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘hasty’ qualifying subject

• śunaśśepham: Śunaśśepha
• śunaśśepham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śunaśśepha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object (taken along)

• mahātejāḥ: of great brilliance
• mahātejāḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + tejas (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose splendor is great’ qualifying subject

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)

• mahāyaśāḥ: of great fame
• mahāyaśāḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + yaśas (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘of great fame’ qualifying subject

Context

O Foremost of men, O Delight of the Raghus (Rama)! the illustrious king (Ambarisha) took Sunassepha with him. (On the way) at Pushkara he took some rest at noon.

Characters & Entities

• Śunaḥśepha
• Ambarīṣa
• Puṣkara

FAQs

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

Dharma is presented through narrative causality: actions taken to fulfill a vow (bringing Śunaḥśepha) move the story forward, emphasizing the weight of pledged rites.

What is the narrative situation?

The king travels with Śunaḥśepha and pauses at Puṣkara at midday, marking a transition in the episode.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast pursuit of an undertaking (niṣṭhā): the king continues the course of action required to complete the sacrifice.