Valmiki Ramayana 1.18.35: Bala Kanda, Sarga 18, Shloka 35

पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः · Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival

Bālakāṇḍa 18

Devanagari script

ते चापि मनुजव्याघ्रा वैदिकाध्ययने रताः ॥३५॥

पितृशुश्रूषणरता धनुर्वेदे च निष्ठिताः ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.18.35

Transliteration

te cāpi manujavyāghrā vaidikādhyayane ratāḥ ||35||

pitṛśuśrūṣaṇaratā dhanurvede ca niṣṭhitāḥ |

Translation

वो सब लोग बहुत बड़े थे। वेद पढ़ने में लगे थे, बाप की सेवा करते थे और धनुष चलाना भी अच्छे से जानते थे।

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Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (agent/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्दः; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (pronoun; masculine nominative plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: and)

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (particle modifying the clause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे (particle: also/even)

• मनुजव्याघ्राः: tigers among men (best of men)
• मनुजव्याघ्राः: कर्ता (agent/subject; apposition to ते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज + व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (मनुजानां व्याघ्राः इति); पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural)

• वैदिकाध्ययने: in Vedic study
• वैदिकाध्ययने: अधिकरण (locus: in/with respect to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदिक + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (वैदिकं अध्ययनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (neuter locative singular)

• रताः: engaged, devoted
• रताः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषणम्, √रम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (past participle used adjectivally; masculine nominative plural)

• पितृशुश्रूषणरताः: intent on serving their parents
• पितृशुश्रूषणरताः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + शुश्रूषण + रत (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पितॄणां शुश्रूषणं तस्मिन् रताः); पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural; adjective of the subject)

• धनुर्वेदे: in the science of archery
• धनुर्वेदे: अधिकरण (locus: in/with respect to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + वेद (प्रातिपदिके) (समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (धनुषः वेदः); पुल्लिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः; एकवचनम् (masculine locative singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction: and/also)

• निष्ठिताः: steadfast, proficient, well-established
• निष्ठिताः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (predicate adjective of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्ठित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषणम्, √स्था (धातु) + नि + क्त)
• Form: नि-उपसर्गपूर्वक-√स्था धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः; बहुवचनम् (past participle used adjectivally; masculine nominative plural)

Context

They (like) tigers among men, were fond of the study of the Vedas and were alwaysengaged in the service of their parents. They were also proficient in the science of archery.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Dhanurveda
• Daśaratha (implied as father)

FAQs

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

Dharma is balance: learning (Veda), discipline in martial skill (Dhanurveda), and reverent service to parents—knowledge and power are legitimized by duty.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator continues listing the princes’ training and conduct, showing them as ideal heirs.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience and service to parents alongside disciplined mastery—self-control directing strength.