Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 62, Shloka 22

शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः

Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

राजसिंह महासत्त्व शीघ्रं गच्छावहे सद:।निर्वर्तयस्व राजेन्द्र दीक्षां च समुपाविश।।।।

Transliteration

rāja-siṃha mahā-sattva śīghraṃ gacchāvahe sadaḥ | nirvartayasva rājendra dīkṣāṃ ca samupāviśa ||

Translation

Ô lion parmi les rois, ô être de grande vaillance, allons vite à l’assemblée sacrificielle. Ô meilleur des rois, reçois la dīkṣā et mène le sacrifice à son achèvement.

Word by Word

• राजसिंह: O lion among kings
• राजसिंह: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative Singular)

• महासत्त्व: O great-souled one
• महासत्त्व: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb): "quickly"

• गच्छावहे: let us two go
• गच्छावहे: क्रिया (Main verb/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative) (आज्ञार्थे/प्रार्थनार्थे), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन (Dual), आत्मनेपद; "let us two go"

• सदः: to the sacrificial assembly
• सदः: कर्म (Karma/Object) (goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular) (destination)

• निर्वर्तयस्व: carry out, complete
• निर्वर्तयस्व: क्रिया (Main verb/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + वृत् (धातु) (causative sense in usage: to carry out)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन

• दीक्षाम्: initiation (dīkṣā)
• दीक्षाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (of 'समुपाविश')
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction) = "and"

• समुपाविश: take up, enter upon
• समुपाविश: क्रिया (Main verb/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

"Endowed with great strength, you are a lion among kings. We shall go to the sacrificial assembly without delay. O Indra among monarchs, take up initiatory ritesand perform the sacrifice".

Characters & Entities

• Śunaḥśepa
• Ambarīṣa
• Dīkṣā (consecration)

FAQs

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

A king’s dharma includes completing vowed rites properly; the verse urges prompt, orderly fulfillment of sacrificial obligations with consecration and correct procedure.

What is the narrative situation?

Śunaḥśepa urges King Ambarīṣa to proceed immediately to the sacrificial assembly and begin/continue the initiatory rites to complete the yajña.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Decisiveness and commitment to duty—swift action to uphold a public religious responsibility.