Valmiki Ramayana 1.17.1: Bala Kanda, Sarga 17, Shloka 1

सप्तदशः सर्गः · देवसंवादः तथा वानर-ऋक्ष-उत्पत्तिः

Divine Council and the Generation of Vanara Allies

Devanagari script

पुत्रत्वं तु गते विष्णौ राज्ञस्तस्य सुमहात्मनः ।

उवाच देवतास्सर्वास्स्वयम्भूर्भगवानिदम् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.17.1

Transliteration

putratvaṃ tu gate viṣṇau rājñas tasya sumahātmanaḥ |

uvāca devatāḥ sarvāḥ svayambhūr bhagavān idam ||1||

Translation

विष्णु ने सोचा कि मैं उस राजा का बेटा बनके जनम लूँगा। वो राजा बड़ा बड़ा आदमी था। तब ब्रह्मा ने सब देवताओं को बुलाया। ब्रह्मा ने उन्हें ये बात बताई।

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Word by Word

• पुत्रत्वम्: sonship; the state of being a son
• पुत्रत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रत्व (प्रातिपदिक; पुत्र + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (त्व)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• गते: when (he) had gone; having gone
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘गते (सति)’ = सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• विष्णौ: in/when Viṣṇu (had gone)
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-प्रयोगे

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुमहात्मनः: of the very great-souled (one)
• सुमहात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) to ‘राज्ञः/तस्य’

• उवाच: said; spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवताः: to the gods
• देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘उवाच’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘देवताः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• स्वयम्भूः: the Self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयम्भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘स्वयम्भूः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• इदम्: this (speech/these words)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘उवाच’ इत्यस्य कर्म (वचनम्)

Context

When Visnu had decided to be born as the son of that great king (Dasaratha), the self-born Lord (Brahma), addressed all devatas :

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Brahmā (Svayambhū)
• Devatās
• Daśaratha (implied: 'that great king')

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld through divine alignment with righteous kingship: Viṣṇu’s choice of birth within a noble lineage signals that the restoration of moral order begins by honoring legitimate, dharmic social structures.

What is the narrative situation?

Before the birth of Rāma, Brahmā speaks to the assembled gods after Viṣṇu has resolved to become the son of the great king (Daśaratha), initiating the divine plan against adharma.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s implied virtue of righteous kingship (rājadharma) and greatness of soul (mahātmatā), making him a fitting father for the avatāra.