Shloka 11

रम्भा

प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

सहस्राक्षस्य तत्कर्म विज्ञाय मुनिपुङ्गव:।रम्भां क्रोधसमाविष्ट श्शशाप कुशिकात्मज:।।1.64.11।।

Transliteration

sahasrākṣasya tat karma vijñāya munipuṅgavaḥ | rambhāṃ krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ śaśāpa kuśikātmajaḥ || 1.64.11 ||

Translation

सहस्राक्ष इन्द्र का यह कार्य जानकर, मुनियों में श्रेष्ठ कुशिकपुत्र विश्वामित्र क्रोध से भर उठे और रम्भा को शाप दे दिया।

Word by Word

• sahasrākṣasya: of Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• sahasrākṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—"सहस्राणि अक्षीणि यस्य" (Indra)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—कर्म

• karma: deed/act
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म—विज्ञाय (having known that deed)

• vijñāya: having known
• vijñāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); "having understood"

• munipuṅgavaḥ: the foremost sage
• munipuṅgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"मुनीनां पुंगवः" (best of sages)

• rambhām: Rambhā
• rambhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rambhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of curse)

• krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ: seized by anger
• krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha + sam-ā-viṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √viś)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) used adjectivally; तत्पुरुषः—"क्रोधेन समाविष्टः"; विशेषणम्—कुशिकात्मजः/मुनिपुङ्गवः

• śaśāpa: cursed
• śaśāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śap (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• kuśikātmajaḥ: son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra)
• kuśikātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśika + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

Context

Son of Kushika, the eminent ascetic knew it was the work of Indra. Seized with anger,he cursed Rambha:

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Rambhā
• Kuśika
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

The verse warns that even a great ascetic can fall from dharma through anger; righteous living requires mastery over krodha, not merely recognition of wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra identifies Indra’s interference behind the seduction attempt and, reacting in anger, directs a curse at Rambhā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity is present (he recognizes Indra’s scheme), but the verse highlights the lapse of self-control—showing how anger can overpower even the eminent.