Valmiki Ramayana 1.39.11 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 39, Shloka 11

सगरयज्ञाश्वहरणम्

The Stolen Sacrificial Horse of Sagara

Devanagari script

उपाध्यायवच श्श्रुत्वा तस्मिन् सदसि पार्थिव:।षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह।।1.39.11।।

Transliteration

upādhyāyavacaḥ śrutvā tasmin sadasi pārthivaḥ |

ṣaṣṭiṁ putrasahasrāṇi vākyam etad uvāca ha ||1.39.11||

Translation

તે યજ્ઞસભામાં ઉપાધ્યાયોના વચન સાંભળી, પાર્થિવ રાજાએ પોતાના સાઠ હજાર પુત્રોને સંબોધી આ વચન કહ્યું.

Word by Word

• उपाध्याय-वचः: the priests' words
• उपाध्याय-वचः: कर्म (कर्म/Object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'उपाध्यायानां वचः'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; 'having heard'

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण to सदसि

• सदसि: in the assembly (sacrificial hall)
• सदसि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• पार्थिवः: the king
• पार्थिवः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• षष्टिम्: sixty
• षष्टिम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object phrase)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूप (numeral), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); संख्या-विशेषण to पुत्रसहस्राणि (intended: sixty-thousand)

• पुत्र-सहस्राणि: thousands of sons
• पुत्र-सहस्राणि: कर्म (कर्म/Object of uvāca; addressed/mentioned)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'पुत्राणां सहस्राणि'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object of uvāca)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to वाक्यम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ह: indeed/then
• ह: सम्बन्ध (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कथन-प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ (emphatic/quotative)

Context

'O Best among men, O sons! I do not the hand of rakshasas in this as this great sacrifice is consecrated by mantras (to prevent any interruption) and is presided over by eminent priests.

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• upādhyāyas (officiating priests)
• Sagara’s sons (60,000)

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as orderly governance aligned with sacred counsel: the king listens to ritual authorities and then gives clear direction to uphold the integrity of the sacrifice.

What is the narrative situation?

During Sagara’s sacrifice, after hearing the priests, Sagara turns to his sons to issue instructions related to the disruption (the missing sacrificial horse).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sagara’s decisiveness and responsibility—he responds promptly within the ritual setting after consulting the officiants.