Valmiki Ramayana 1.16.4: Bala Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 4

पायसप्रादुर्भावः · The Manifestation of the Divine Payasa and the Avatara Resolution

Devanagari script

स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दीर्घकालमरिन्दम ।

येन तुष्टोऽभवद्ब्रह्मा लोककृल्लोकपूर्वजः ॥४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.16.4

Transliteration

sa hi tepe tapas tīvraṁ dīrgha-kālam arindama |

yena tuṣṭo ’bhavad brahmā loka-kṛl loka-pūrvajaḥ ||4||

Translation

रावण ने बहुत टाइम तक तपस्या की। बहुत सख्त तपस्या थी। ब्रह्मा उससे खुश हो गए। ब्रह्मा ने ही दुनिया बनाई थी, वो सबसे पहले थे।

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Word by Word

• santuṣṭaḥ: well-pleased
• santuṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: santuṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √tuṣ with sam-)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifier of 'prabhuḥ'

• pradadau: granted/gave
• pradadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु) with pra-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• rākṣasāya: to the rākṣasa
• rākṣasāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular; apposition to 'tasmai'

• varam: boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• prabhuḥ: the Lord (Brahmā)
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nānā-vidhebhyaḥ: from various kinds (of)
• nānā-vidhebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva ‘nānāvidha’; Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (पञ्चमी), Plural; qualifies 'bhūtebhyaḥ'

• bhūtebhyaḥ: from beings
• bhūtebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (पञ्चमी), Plural

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object understood with ‘(na) bhavet’

• na: not/no
• na: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• anyatra: except
• anyatra: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preposition-like indeclinable (अपवादार्थक-अव्यय) ‘except’

• mānuṣāt: from a human
• mānuṣāt: Apādāna (अपादान) — exception source
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular

Context

"O destroyer of foes! Lord Brahma was very pleased with Ravana's intense penance over a long time৷৷

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Brahmā

FAQs

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

Austerity and disciplined effort can yield powerful results; Dharma requires that such power be guided by righteous intent rather than ego or harm.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra explains the background to Rāvaṇa’s rise—his severe penance that won Brahmā’s favor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tapas (self-discipline) is highlighted as a potent force—ethically neutral unless directed by Dharma.