Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 17

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

ततस्सर्वे नृपतय स्समेत्य मुनिपुंगव।मिथिलामभ्युपागम्य वीर्यजिज्ञासवस्तदा।।1.66.17।।

Transliteration

tatas sarve nṛpatayaḥ sametya munipuṅgava |

mithilām abhyupāgamya vīryajijñāsavas tadā ||1.66.17||

Translation

Alors, ô le plus illustre des sages, tous ces rois s’assemblèrent et vinrent à Mithilā, désireux d’éprouver leur force.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: kāla/krama-avyaya (thereafter/ततः)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies nṛpatayaḥ

• nṛpatayaḥ: kings
• nṛpatayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sametya: having assembled
• sametya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√i (इ धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive), avyaya; 'having assembled/met'

• munipuṅgava: O best of sages
• munipuṅgava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• mithilām: to Mithilā
• mithilām: Karma (कर्म; goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; place-name

• abhi-upāgamya: having come/approached
• abhi-upāgamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-upa-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Ktvānta (absolutive), avyaya; 'having approached/come to'

• vīrya-jijñāsavaḥ: desirous of testing prowess
• vīrya-jijñāsavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + jijñāsu (कृदन्त, √jñā धातु, desiderative)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; समासः—वीर्यं जिज्ञासवः (objective tatpuruṣa)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: temporal adverb

Context

The bow was brought and placed before those who were curious to test their strengthbut none was able to grasp or lift the bow.

Characters & Entities

• Mithilā
• kings (nṛpati)
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Merit-based qualification: dharma is upheld by testing capability openly rather than granting privilege by rank alone.

What is the narrative situation?

Kings gather at Mithilā to attempt the strength-test connected with Sītā’s marriage condition.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to fair assessment—willingness to be evaluated by a known standard.