Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 67, Shloka 3

शिवधनुर्दर्शनं—रामेण धनुर्भङ्गश्च

The Showing of Śiva’s Bow and Rama’s Breaking of It

Devanagari script

जनकेन समादिष्टा: सचिवा प्राविशन् पुरीम्।तद्धनु: पुरत: कृत्वा निर्जग्मु: पार्थिवाज्ञया।।।।

Transliteration

janakena samādiṣṭāḥ sacivāḥ prāviśan purīm | tad dhanuḥ purataḥ kṛtvā nirjagmuḥ pārthivājñayā ||

Translation

Atas titah Janaka, para menteri memasuki kota; dan dengan menempatkan busur itu di depan, mereka berangkat sesuai perintah sang raja.

Word by Word

• janakena: by Janaka
• janakena: Kartṛ (कर्ता) (agent of passive samādiṣṭāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• samādiṣṭāḥ: commanded
• samādiṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā√diś (दिश् धातु) + ta (क्त) with sam-
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with sacivāḥ

• sacivāḥ: ministers
• sacivāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• prāviśan: entered
• prāviśan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• purīm: the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म) / Gati (गति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative, Singular; deictic with dhanuḥ

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of kṛtvā (having placed)

• purataḥ: in front
• purataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puratas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place: "in front"

• kṛtvā: having placed/made
• kṛtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; prior action

• nirjagmuḥ: went out/departed
• nirjagmuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• pārthiva-ājñayā: by the king's command
• pārthiva-ājñayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular; "by the king's order"

Context

Commanded by (king) Janaka, the ministers went to the city, put the bow in front of them and carried it as per the orders of the king.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• ministers
• Mithilā (city)
• the bow (Śiva’s bow/Pināka tradition)

FAQs

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

Dharma of duty in service: ministers execute the king’s lawful command with order and discipline, supporting a public rite.

What is the narrative situation?

Janaka’s ministers move to retrieve and present the famed bow for display in the svayaṃvara context.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Administrative obedience and efficiency—state functionaries act promptly and in an organized manner.