Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.49: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 49

अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा

Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative

Devanagari script

तेन पूरयता वेगान्मध्ये भग्नं द्विधा धनुः ।

तस्य शब्दो भवद्भीमः पतितस्याशनेरिव ॥४९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.118.49

Transliteration

tena pūrayatā vegān madhye bhagnaṃ dvidhā dhanuḥ |

tasya śabdo bhavad bhīmaḥ patitasyāśaner iva ||49||

Translation

जब वो धनुष को ज़ोर लगाके खींच रहे थे, तब बीच में से टूट गया। धनुष दो हिस्सों में टूट गया। उसकी आवाज़ इतनी भारी थी, जैसे आसमान से बिजली गिर गई हो।

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Word by Word

• nimeṣa-antara-mātreṇa: within a mere instant
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (समास): nimeṣasya antaraṃ = nimeṣāntara (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), then mātra ‘mere measure’ (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष usage); Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (kāla-adhikaraṇa: time within which)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• tadā: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)

• ānamya: having bent
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nam (नम्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having bent’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• mahābalaḥ: the mighty one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound (कर्मधारय): ‘great strength’; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying the agent
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• jyām: the bowstring
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• samāropya: having strung/put on
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√ruh/√rop (रुह्/रोप्) (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having mounted/placed (on), having strung’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया) (pūrvakāla-kriyā)

• jhaḍiti: instantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jhaḍiti (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (शीघ्रार्थक-अव्यय)
• Role: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• pūrayāmāsa: fully drew/strung (completed)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pṝ/√pūr (पूर्) (धातु)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्/परस्मैपद-परिप्रयोगः: ‘āmāsa’), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• vīryavān: valiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + matup (मतुप्)
• Form: Possessive adjective (मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• tadānamya = tadā + ānamya
• jyāṃ (written jyāṅ) is accusative singular
• pūrayāmāsa is periphrastic perfect (pūrayā + āmāsa)

Context

When Rama was stringing the bow with force, it was broken into two in the middle and fell down with a dreadful sound like that of thunder.

The teaching

Sudden rupture can signal a turning point; strength must be guided by discernment, not mere strain.

Ethical theme

Nimitta (omens) / prudence

For your practice

Mindfulness of omens and inner ‘snapping points’; cultivate steadiness rather than forceful compulsion.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Dreadful, sudden, portentous

Themes

• Itihasa
• Dharma
• Veerya (valor)
• Maryada
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• bow (dhanuḥ)
• thunderbolt (aśani)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it supports the epic’s dharmic ideal of a worthy protector: strength under discipline serves righteous ends, not vanity.

What is the narrative situation?

A recollection/description of Rama forcefully stringing a bow that breaks with a thunder-like crash.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s controlled power (vīrya) presented as an attribute of a dharmic hero.