Valmiki Ramayana 1.66.5: Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 5

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

The Bow of Śiva: Its Deposit, Sītā’s Origin, and the Prowess-Brideprice Vow

Devanagari script

पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ क्षत्रियौ लोकविश्रुतौ ।

द्रुष्टुकामौ धनु श्श्रेष्ठं यदेतत्वयि तिष्ठति ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.66.5

Transliteration

putrau daśarathasyemau kṣatriyau lokaviśrutau |

draṣṭukāmau dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṁ yad etat tvayi tiṣṭhati ||5||

Translation

विश्वामित्र ने कहा, यह दोनों दशरथ के बेटे हैं। दोनों क्षत्रिय हैं और दुनिया में सब जानते हैं। यह आपके पास रखा हुआ धनुष देखना चाहते हैं। बहुत बड़ा धनुष है वो।

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Word by Word

• putrau: two sons
• putrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• daśarathasya: of Daśaratha
• daśarathasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• imau: these two
• imau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• kṣatriyau: kṣatriyas
• kṣatriyau: Apposition to Karta (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• lokaviśrutau: renowned in the world
• lokaviśrutau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka + viśruta (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लोके विश्रुतौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; qualifying putrau/imau

• draṣṭu-kāmau: desirous to see
• draṣṭu-kāmau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + tumun (तुमुन्) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्रष्टुं कामौ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; desiderative ‘eager to see’

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śreṣṭham: excellent, best
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying dhanuḥ

• yat: which
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; correlates with etat

• etat: this (bow)
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; apposition to yat

• tvayi: with you / in your keeping
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tiṣṭhati: stands, remains
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Dasaratha's sons, (Rama and Lakshmana), kshatriyas renowned in the world are eager to see that great bow in your possession.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Janaka
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Bow (Janaka’s sacred bow; traditionally identified with Śiva’s bow)

FAQs

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

Proper conduct in requesting sacred access: authority is respected (the bow is in Janaka’s custody), and the request is made through legitimate mediation (the sage).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra introduces Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and requests Janaka to show them the famed bow kept at Mithilā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa’s disciplined curiosity and readiness for kṣatriya trials, guided by a guru rather than personal impulse.