Valmiki Ramayana 1.15.5: Bala Kanda, Sarga 15, Shloka 5

पञ्चदशः सर्गः · देवकृत-प्रार्थना, रावणवधोपायः, विष्णोः मानुषावतारनियोजनम्

Sarga 15: The Devas’ Petition, the Means to Slay Ravana, and Vishnu’s Commission to Incarnate as Man

Setting: Deva-sabhā / council hall (celestial assembly; implied)

Devanagari script

तास्समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन्सदसि देवताः ।

अब्रुवन् लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं महत् ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.15.5

Transliteration

tāḥ sametya yathānyāyaṃ tasmin sadasi devatāḥ |

abruvan lokakartāraṃ brahmāṇaṃ vacanaṃ mahat ||5||

Translation

सब वहाँ आके बैठ गए जैसे होना चाहिए था। फिर देवता ने ब्रह्मा से बात की। ब्रह्मा दुनिया बनाता है। देवता ने उनसे बड़ी बात कही।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• tāḥ: those (female/collective: the deities)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana; demonstrative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• sametya: having assembled
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-i (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), absolutive (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), ‘having assembled/come together’
• Role: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)

• yathā-nyāyam: as is proper
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana in form; meaning ‘according to propriety/custom’
• Role: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Compound: Avyayibhava

• tasmin: in that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Saptamī-vibhakti (सप्तमी, locative), Eka-vacana
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• sadasi: in the assembly
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī-vibhakti, Eka-vacana
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)

• devatāḥ: the deities
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Bahu-vacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• abruvan: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra, Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahu-vacana
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• loka-kartāram: the creator of the worlds
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: lokānāṃ kartā (creator of worlds)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• brahmāṇam: Brahmā
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; proper noun Brahmā
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vacanam: words/speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; internal object of ‘said’
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• mahat: great/important
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā-vibhakti, Eka-vacana; agrees with vacanam
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

Sandhi Notes

• tās-sametya → tāḥ sametya
• tasmin-sadasi → tasmin sadasi

Context

All devatas assembled there as per tradition and thus addressed Lord Brahma the creator of the worlds:

The teaching

When power is constrained by prior grants, resolution must proceed through rightful authority and proper counsel, not impulsive force.

Duties in tension

• Devas’ duty to protect cosmic order
• Limitations imposed by boons and rules of punishment
• Need for lawful remedy through higher authority

Ethical theme

Cosmic governance / niyama (rule of order)

How it resolves

Appeal to constitutional cosmic authority (Brahmā)

Devotion and practice

Models humility and proper approach to the divine: petition with decorum, clarity, and collective welfare in view.

Deity praised

Brahmā

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Majestic, formal, anticipatory

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahma

FAQs

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

When confronted by disorder, one approaches legitimate authority through proper, respectful procedure—dharma works through rightful counsel and governance.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods convene and formally present their grave concern to Brahmā about the crisis caused by Rāvaṇa.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility and institutional respect—seeking resolution through the creator and lawful deliberation rather than impulsive retaliation.