Valmiki Ramayana 1.64.9: Bala Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 9

रम्भा

प्रलोभनम् · Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse

Addressed to RamaSetting: hermitage/grove setting implied by cuckoo-call

Devanagari script

कोकिलस्य च शुश्राव वल्गु व्याहरतः स्वनम् ।

सम्प्रहृष्टेन मनसा तत एनामुदैक्षत ॥९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.64.9

Transliteration

kokilasya ca śuśrāva valgu vyāharataḥ svanam |

samprahṛṣṭena manasā tata enām udaikṣata ||9||

Translation

उसको कोयल की आवाज़ सुनाई दी। वो आवाज़ बहुत प्यारी थी। उसका मन खुश हो गया। फिर उसने उस औरत को देखा।

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Word by Word

• कोकिलस्य: of the cuckoo
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)
• Role: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)

• शुश्राव: heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• वल्गु: sweetly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वल्गु (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (sweetly/charmingly)
• Role: Prakara (प्रकार)

• व्याहरतः: of (it) singing/uttering
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (of one uttering/singing) विशेषणम् (कोकिलस्य)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)

• स्वनम्: sound; call
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• सम्प्रहृष्टेन: delighted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + प्र + हृष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (delighted) विशेषणम् (मनसा)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन
• Role: Karana (करण)

• ततः: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थ (then/thereupon)
• Role: Kaala (काल)

• एनाम्: her
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• उदैक्षत: looked at; beheld
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• तत एनामुदैक्षत = ततः + एनाम् + उदैक्षत

Context

Excited by the charming warble of the cuckoo, Viswamitra opened his eyes.

The teaching

The fall begins subtly: a pleasing sound, a delighted mind, a turning gaze—therefore guard the first movement of attention.

Duties in tension

• Viśvāmitra’s commitment to tapas and sense-restraint vs. emergent delight and attention to viṣaya

Ethical theme

Indriya-saṃyama; vigilance in tapas

How it resolves

Incipient lapse (attention shift)

For your practice

Practical cue for meditation: notice the moment the mind 'turns to look'—return to the object before delight becomes attachment.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shringara (love), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Stirred, sweet, bewitched

Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Mind and sense-contact
• Temptation
• Tapas

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Kokila (cuckoo)
• Rambhā (implied by “her”)

FAQs

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

It shows how sense-contact (sound) can agitate the mind; dharma in ascetic life requires guarding attention so that delight does not become downfall.

What is the narrative situation?

As part of Indra’s plan, the cuckoo-call is heard; Viśvāmitra’s attention shifts, and he looks toward Rambhā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse primarily highlights a vulnerability rather than a virtue: the mind’s susceptibility—an instructive contrast to the virtue of unwavering concentration.