Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 12

विशालानगरीप्रवेशः

Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend

Devanagari script

कतरो राजवंशोऽयं विशालायां महामुने।श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते परं कौतूहलं हि मे।।.।।

Transliteration

kataro rājavaṃśo 'yaṃ viśālāyāṃ mahāmune | śrotum icchāmi bhadraṃ te paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me ||

Translation

“Wahai Mahamuni, wangsa raja yang manakah yang memerintah di Viśālā ini? Aku ingin mendengarnya; semoga kebaikan menyertaimu—rasa ingin tahuku sangat besar.”

Word by Word

• कतरः: which (of the two/which one)
• कतरः: विशेषण (Interrogative adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतर (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-विशेषण of राजवंशः

• राज-वंशः: royal lineage/dynasty
• राज-वंशः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘राज्ञां वंशः’

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of राजवंशः

• विशालायाम्: in Vishālā (city)
• विशालायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् मुनिः’

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव; ‘to hear’

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• भद्रम्: well-being; good fortune
• भद्रम्: सम्बोधन-आशीः (Benediction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; आशीर्वादार्थक प्रयोग (benedictive usage)

• ते: to you/for you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन (Singular) (enclitic form)

• परम्: great; intense
• परम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of कौतूहलम्

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity
• कौतूहलम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic: ‘curiosity’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन (Singular) (enclitic form)

Context

"O Distinguished ascetic, which royal dynasty is ruling this city of Vishala? Could you tell me?! Great is my curiosity. May you prosper"!

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• Viśālā (city)

FAQs

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

Dharma is aligned with satya-oriented learning: Rāma seeks truthful historical knowledge (itihāsa) from a reliable authority, showing that right action is supported by right understanding.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma asks Viśvāmitra to identify the ruling dynasty of Viśālā and to recount its background.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Intellectual curiosity disciplined by respect—Rāma’s desire to know is paired with courteous speech and reverence.