Valmiki Ramayana 1.38.12: Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 12

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः · Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Spoken by Bhrigu

Devanagari script

एको वंशकरो वाऽस्तु बहवो वा महाबलाः ।

कीर्तिमन्तो महोत्साहाः का वा कं वरमिच्छति ॥१२॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.38.12

Transliteration

eko vaṃśa-karo vā ’stu bahavo vā mahā-balāḥ |

kīrtimanto mahotsāhāḥ kā vā kaṃ varam icchati ||12||

Translation

उन्होंने कहा, तुम्हे एक बेटा चाहिए जो वंश चलाए, या बहुत सारे बेटे? वो बड़े बलवान हो, नाम वाले हो, काम करने वाले हो। तुम में से कौन क्या चाहता है? बताओ।

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Word by Word

• एकः: one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies vaṃśakaraḥ)
• Role: विशेषण

• वंशकरः: a perpetuator of the line
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंशकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vaṃśa + kara = 'maker of lineage')
• Role: कर्ता (of implied 'be')
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')
• Role: समुच्चय/विकल्प (connector)

• अस्तु: let there be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/optative sense 'let there be'), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया

• बहवः: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies mahābalāḥ etc.)
• Role: विशेषण

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: समुच्चय/विकल्प

• महाबलाः: mighty/strong
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahā + bala = 'great strength')
• Role: विशेषण
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• कीर्तिमन्तः: famed / possessing renown
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्तिमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)
• Role: विशेषण

• महोत्साहाः: high-spirited / of great effort
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महोत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (mahā + utsāha = 'great energy/enterprise')
• Role: विशेषण
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• का: who (which woman)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)
• Role: कर्ता (of icchati)

• वा: then / or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प/अनिश्चितार्थक (adds indefiniteness: 'indeed/then/or')
• Role: निपात (particle)

• कम्: which (one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम
• Role: कर्म

• वरम्: boon
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (object of icchati)

• इच्छति: desires
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: क्रिया

Sandhi Notes

• वरमिच्छति = वरम् + इच्छति (m + i sandhi)

Context

'What would you wish? One son who perpetuates the race or many possessed of mighty strength endowed with fame and perseverance?' (asked Bhrugu).

The teaching

State your highest priority—continuity or multiplicity of excellence—and accept the dharmic responsibilities that follow that boon.

Duties in tension

• Vaṃśa-dharma (ensuring a clear heir/continuity)
• Desire for power/fame through many capable sons (social-political strength)

Ethical theme

Family/royal ethics (vaṃśa, kīrti, responsibility)

How it resolves

Explicit option-setting; choice determines outcome

Devotion and practice

A reflection verse for clarifying intentions before seeking boons: ask whether you seek stability (one) or expansion (many), and whether it serves dharma.

Mantra

एको वंशकरो ... बहवो वा महाबलाः

Mood and themes

Rasa

Adbhuta (wonder), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Decisive, anticipatory, evaluative

Themes

• Dharma
• Lineage duty
• Choice
• Kingship ethics

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Vaṃśa (dynasty/lineage)
• Keśinī
• Sumatī

FAQs

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

Prioritizing rightful ends: sustaining a righteous lineage (vaṃśa) is presented as a distinct dharmic good alongside power and fame.

What is the narrative situation?

Bhṛgu frames the options of the boon so the queens can decide between a single dynastic heir or many powerful sons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence in choosing: the verse highlights discernment between quantity of power and continuity of rightful succession.