Valmiki Ramayana 1.45.29: Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 29

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः · Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra

Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

इति श्रुत्वा हृषीकेशः कामठं रूपमास्थितः ।

पर्वतं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा शिश्ये तत्रोदधौ हरिः ॥२९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.45.29

Transliteration

iti śrutvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ kāmaṭhaṃ rūpam āsthitaḥ |

parvataṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā śiśye tatrodadhau hariḥ ||29||

Translation

यह सब सुन के हृषिकेश ने कछुआ का रूप ले लिया। उसने पर्वत को अपनी पीठ पर उठा लिया और समुंदर में लेट गया।

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Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakya-sambandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle: 'thus')

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्तम् (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (prior action)

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the senses)
• हृषीकेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; components: हृषीक + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कामठम्: tortoise (as)
• कामठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); रूपम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम् (adjective of 'form')

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आस्थितः: having assumed
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (Past passive participle used actively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (having assumed)

• पर्वतम्: the mountain
• पर्वतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पृष्ठतः: on (his) back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठतस् (अव्यय; from पृष्ठ)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of place: 'on the back/behind')

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्तम् (Absolutive/Gerund), पूर्वकालिकक्रिया

• शिश्ये: reclined; lay down
• शिश्ये: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम् (Atmanepada)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: 'there')

• उदधौ: in the ocean
• उदधौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

Having heard these words, the controller of the sense organs, Visnu, assumed the form of a tortoise reclined in the ocean supporting the mountain on its back.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu (Hari, Hṛṣīkeśa)
• Ocean (Udadhi)
• Mountain (Mandara implied by context of churning)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes sustaining others when a righteous undertaking needs support: Viṣṇu takes a stabilizing role so the devas’ effort can proceed, modeling protective responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

During the churning of the ocean, Viṣṇu assumes the tortoise form to bear the mountain used as the churning staff/support.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfast support and selfless guardianship—divine willingness to bear burdens so that order and rightful aims can be fulfilled.