Valmiki Ramayana 1.75.5: Bala Kanda, Sarga 75, Shloka 5

जामदग्न्य

रामसंवादः · Parashurama Confronts Rama with the Vaishnava Bow

Narrated by ValmikiSetting: Mithilā (court)Immediately after Paraśurāma's challenge; Daśaratha intervenes

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दशरथस्तदा ।

विषण्णवदनो दीनः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥५॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.75.5

Transliteration

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā daśarathas tadā |

viṣaṇṇavadano dīnaḥ prāñjalir vākyam abravīt ||5||

Translation

यह बात सुन के राजा दशरथ बहुत दुखी हो गए। उनका चेहरा उतवला हो गया। हाथ जोड़ के उन्होंने कहा।

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Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वचनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त
• Role: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘राजा’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
• Role: Kala (काल)

• विषण्णवदनः: with a dejected face
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विषण्णं वदनं यस्य)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Compound: Bahuvrihi

• दीनः: distressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘राजा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

• प्राञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘राजा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (hands joined)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण)

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

• अब्रवीत्: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

Sandhi Notes

• तद्वचनं = तत् + वचनम्
• दशरथस्तदा = दशरथः + तदा
• प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यम् = प्राञ्जलिः + वाक्यम्
• वाक्यमब्रवीत् = वाक्यम् + अब्रवीत्

Context

When king Dasaratha heard these words, his face fell. He humbly pleaded with him his hands folded:

The teaching

When power threatens the innocent, rightful authority may bow and plead to avert adharma; humility can be a form of protection.

Duties in tension

• King's duty to uphold honor of his house vs father's duty to protect sons
• Respect toward a brāhmaṇa ascetic vs resistance to unjust threat

Ethical theme

Pītṛ-dharma; rāja-dharma under crisis

How it resolves

Supplication/appeal to dharma and compassion

Devotion and practice

Model of humility and prayerful posture in crisis; using namaskāra to soften conflict.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Downcast, pleading, foreboding

Themes

• Dharma
• Kingship
• Parental duty
• Humility
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Paraśurāma

FAQs

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

Humility before danger and reverence toward ascetic power: a righteous king responds with restraint and supplication rather than rash pride.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha, alarmed by Paraśurāma’s challenge, prepares to plead for his sons’ safety.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Daśaratha’s protective compassion and humility.