Valmiki Ramayana 1.59.5: Bala Kanda, Sarga 59, Shloka 5

विश्वामित्रस्य शरणागति-प्रशंसा तथा वासिष्ठपुत्र-शापः

Visvamitra grants refuge; the curse upon Vasishta’s sons

Spoken by Viśvāmitra to TrishankuSetting: Kauśika/Viśvāmitra’s āśrama-sacrificial precinctPlaces named: KauśikaArrival of the king seeking refuge

Devanagari script

हस्तप्राप्तमहं मन्ये स्वर्गं तव नराधिप ।

यस्त्वं कौशिकमागम्य शरण्यं शरणागतः ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.59.5

Transliteration

hastaprāptam ahaṃ manye svargaṃ tava narādhipa |

yas tvaṃ kauśikam āgamya śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇāgataḥ ||5||

Translation

नराधिप, मैं समझता हूँ कि तुम्हारा स्वर्ग पक्का है। क्योंकि तुमने विश्वामित्र की शरण ली है। जो भी शरण आता है, उसकी मदद होती है।

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Word by Word

• हस्त-प्राप्तम्: already obtained/in hand
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राप्त (प्र-आप्/आप्-धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्त कृदन्त; समासः सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-भावः (हस्ते प्राप्तम् = 'in hand obtained')
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of 'स्वर्गम्')
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• अहम्: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta)

• मन्ये: I think/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: क्रिया (verb)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• तव: for you/your
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)

• नर-अधिप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नराणाम् अधिपः)
• Role: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• यः: who
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम
• Role: सम्बन्ध (relative pronoun; refers to 'त्वम्')

• त्वम्: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्ता (Karta)

• कौशिकम्: Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन
• Role: कर्म (Karma)

• आगम्य: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); 'having come/reached'
• Role: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)

• शरण्यम्: worthy of refuge
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate/object complement)
• Role: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifier of 'कौशिकम्')

• शरण-आगतः: one who has taken refuge
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगत (आ-गम् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्त कृदन्त; समासः द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः (शरणम् आगतः)
• Role: कर्तृ-विशेषण (qualifier of 'त्वम्')
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• हस्तप्राप्तम् = हस्त-प्राप्तम्
• यस्त्वम् = यः त्वम्
• कौशिकमागम्य = कौशिकम् आगम्य
• शरणागतः = शरण-आगतः

Context

O King! since you have taken refuge in Viswamitra who is the protector of those who resort to him, I think heaven is already within your reach".

The teaching

Sincere surrender to a true refuge can transform one’s trajectory, even when one’s past is burdened.

Duties in tension

• King’s desire for svarga vs consequences of prior adharma
• Duty to honor guru’s authority vs seeking alternate refuge

Ethical theme

Śaraṇāgati-dharma, anugraha (grace)

How it resolves

Refuge-based dispensation under a powerful protector

Devotion and practice

Use as a śaraṇāgati-bhāva contemplation: approach the worthy protector (guru/īśvara) with humility and trust.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

शरण्यं शरणागतः

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Assuring, protective, uplifting

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge)
• Tapas
• Itihasa
• Ethics

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (Kauśika)
• Triśaṅku
• svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Śaraṇāgati is presented as a moral bond: when a person sincerely seeks refuge with a righteous protector, the protector’s duty is to uphold and defend that refuge.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra encourages Triśaṅku, saying that by taking refuge in him, Triśaṅku’s ascent to heaven is assured.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s guardianship (śaraṇyatva) and reliability—his willingness to stand by a supplicant.