Valmiki Ramayana 1.40.1: Bala Kanda, Sarga 40, Shloka 1

सगरपुत्राणां रसातलगमनम् · The Descent of Sagara’s Sons and the Wrath of Kapila

Setting: ब्रह्मलोक/देवसभा (implied)

Devanagari script

. देवतानां वचश्श्रुत्वा भगवान्वै पितामहः ।

प्रत्युवाच सुसन्त्रस्तान्कृतान्तबलमोहितान् ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.40.1

Transliteration

devatānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavān vai pitāmahaḥ |

pratyuvāca susantrastān kṛtānta-bala-mohitān ||1||

Translation

ब्रह्मा ने देवताओं की बात सुनी। वो लोग डर के मारे थे। किस्मत ने उनपे इतना ज़ोर दाला था कि दिमाग घूम गया था। फिर ब्रह्मा ने उनका जवाब दिया।

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Word by Word

• देवतानाम्: of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• वचः: words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund); ‘having heard’
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• भगवान्: the venerable Lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)

• पितामहः: Brahmā (the grandsire)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• सुसन्त्रस्तान्: the very frightened (ones)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सन्त्रस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; देवतान् (अध्याहृत) इति विशेषणम्
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• कृतान्तबलमोहितान्: those deluded by the power of fate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतान्त + बल + मोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कृतान्तस्य बलम्) + कृदन्त ‘मोहित’ = deluded by the power of fate/death
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• भगवान्वै = भगवान् + वै
• सुसन्त्रस्तान्कृतान्तबलमोहितान् = सुसन्त्रस्तान् + कृतान्तबलमोहितान्

Context

Having heard the devatas, extremely frightened, and deprived of their sensual perception by the prowess of fate. The adorable grandsire (Brahma) replied:

The teaching

Even the gods, when shaken by fate, must seek right counsel and act within dharma; composure and alignment with ṛta steadies fear.

Duties in tension

• देवताः: self-preservation vs. upholding cosmic order under destiny
• ब्रह्मा: compassion for devas vs. adherence to ordained karmic sequence

Ethical theme

Cosmic governance / duty under inevitability

How it resolves

Authoritative counsel aligning action with cosmic order

Devotion and practice

Cultivates śaraṇāgati to the higher order and steadiness when confronted by inevitability (nīti + śānti).

Deity praised

ब्रह्मा (as refuge/authority)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Cosmic anxiety, fateful gravity, authoritative calm

Themes

• Dharma
• Cosmic Order
• Itihasa
• Fate and Responsibility

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• devatāḥ (gods)
• kṛtānta (fate/death)

FAQs

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

Dharma operates within a cosmic order: even gods face fear when destiny overwhelms, yet guidance is sought from a higher authority to restore right course.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods approach Brahmā in distress; Brahmā hears them and prepares to respond, setting up the next instruction in the Sagara episode.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prājñatā (wise governance): Brahmā’s role as stabilizing authority who responds to crisis with counsel aligned to cosmic law.