Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 11

त्रिशङ्कुशापः

Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra

Devanagari script

तं दृष्टवा मन्त्रिणस्सर्वे त्यज्य चण्डालरूपिणम्।।।।प्राद्रवन् सहिता राम पौरा येऽस्यानुगामिन:।

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā mantriṇaḥ sarve tyajya caṇḍāla-rūpiṇam |

prādravan sahitā rāma paurā ye ’syānugāminaḥ ||1.58.11||

Translation

Melihatnya dalam rupa seorang caṇḍāla, semua menteri meninggalkannya; dan penduduk kota pun—wahai Rāma—bersama para pengikutnya, berlarian menjauh.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): having seen

• मन्त्रिणः: ministers
• मन्त्रिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्यज्य: having abandoned
• त्यज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): having abandoned

• चण्डालरूपिणम्: in chandala form
• चण्डालरूपिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of tam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्डाल + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (caṇḍāla-rūpin = in the form of a caṇḍāla)

• प्राद्रवन्: ran away/fled
• प्राद्रवन्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सहिताः: together (with others)
• सहिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘together/along with’ (qualifies paurāḥ)

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• पौराः: citizens
• पौराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• अस्य: of him/his
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनुगामिनः: followers
• अनुगामिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to ye)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle used as noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘followers’

Context

"O Rama! seeing him in the form of a chandala, all his counsellors, inhabitants of the city including his followers fled away.

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Ministers (mantriṇaḥ)
• Citizens (paurāḥ)

FAQs

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

Dharma challenges abandonment rooted in fear and stigma; righteousness demands humane conduct even when someone’s status collapses.

What is the narrative situation?

Triśaṅku’s cursed appearance causes his own ministers, citizens, and followers to desert him and run away.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The implied virtue is loyalty and compassion—standing by a person in adversity rather than fleeing social contamination.