Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 19, Shloka 14

विश्वामित्रस्य यज्ञरक्षा-याचना

Visvamitra Requests Rama for Yajna-Protection

Devanagari script

अहं वेद्मि महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।।।।वसिष्ठोऽपि महातेजा ये चेमे तपसि स्थिता:।

Transliteration

ahaṃ vedmi mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satya-parākramam |

vasiṣṭho 'pi mahātejā ye ceme tapasi sthitāḥ ||

Translation

私は、真実にかなう武勇を備えた大いなる魂のラーマを知っている。大いなる光輝のヴァシシュタも、そしてタパスに安住するこれらの聖仙たちも、同じく彼を知っている。

Word by Word

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vedmi: know
• vedmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ present; Uttamapuruṣa (1st), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• mahātmānam: the great-souled
• mahātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; used substantively 'the great-souled one'

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to mahātmānam

• satyaparākramam: of true prowess
• satyaparākramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective of Rāma

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (in implied 'knows/acknowledges')
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Emphasis/Addition (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• mahātejāḥ: of great radiance
• mahātejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (as in given text); predicate adjective of "vasiṣṭhaḥ" meaning 'of great splendor'

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता) (relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; relative pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• ime: these
• ime: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to ye)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; demonstrative pronoun

• tapasi: in austerity
• tapasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• sthitāḥ: steadfast / abiding
• sthitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त) → sthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies "ye ime"

Context

O king of kings, if you are seeking the benefits of righteousness, great everlastingfame in this world, it is fit and proper to give Rama to me.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Vasiṣṭha
• ṛṣis (ascetics/sages)

FAQs

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

Moral authority is grounded in truthful discernment: sages who are established in tapas testify to Rāma’s reliable virtue and capability, making trust in dharmic leadership reasonable.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra strengthens his request by invoking shared knowledge and endorsement of Rāma’s character by Vasiṣṭha and other ascetics.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-parākrama—valor that is dependable and aligned with truth and righteousness.