Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 66, Shloka 4

शिवधनुर्न्यासकथा तथा सीतोत्पत्तिविवाहशुल्क-निश्चयः

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्स धर्मात्मा जनकेन महात्मना।प्रत्युवाच मुनिर्वीरं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद:।।1.66.4।।

Transliteration

evam uktas sa dharmātmā janakena mahātmanā | pratyuvāca munir vīraṁ vākyaṁ vākyaviśāradaḥ || 1.66.4 ||

Translation

Demikian disapa oleh Janaka yang berhati luhur, sang muni yang dharmatma—mahir bertutur—menjawab raja pahlawan itu.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to / addressed
• uktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘spoken/addressed’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• dharmātmā: the righteous-souled one
• dharmātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + ātman (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (one whose self is righteous), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• janakena: by Janaka
• janakena: Kartṛ-karaṇa/Agent-instrument (कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• mahātmanā: by the great-souled
• mahātmanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘great-souled’ (qualifying janakena)

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√vac (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vīram: to the hero (addressing)
• vīram: Sampradāna/Addressed (सम्प्रदान/आलम्बन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• vākyam: words / a statement
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vākyaviśāradaḥ: skilled in speech
• vākyaviśāradaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya + viśārada (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वाक्ये विशारदः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; qualifying muniḥ

Context

Those eminent kings felt humiliated. Inflamed with anger, they tormented the city of Mithila.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Viśvāmitra

FAQs

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

Dharma is communicated through disciplined speech: the sage’s measured reply models truthful, purposeful dialogue rather than impulsive words.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration transitions from Janaka’s welcome to Viśvāmitra’s response, setting up the request regarding the famed bow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s restraint and eloquence—wisdom expressed through fitting speech.