Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 2

राज्ञः शङ्का

प्रत्याख्यानम् (Daśaratha’s Objections to Sending Rāma) — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Devanagari script

ऊनषोडशवर्षो मे रामो राजीवलोचन:।न युद्धयोग्यतामस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसै:।।।।

Transliteration

ūnaṣoḍaśavarṣo me rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ | na yuddhayogyatām asya paśyāmi saha rākṣasaiḥ |

Translation

蓮華の眼をもつ我がラーマは、まだ十六歳にも満たぬ。羅刹どもと戦うに足るとは、いまは思えぬ。

Word by Word

• ūna-ṣoḍaśa-varṣaḥ: less than sixteen years old
• ūna-ṣoḍaśa-varṣaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūna (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣoḍaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; compound meaning 'less-than-sixteen-years (old)' qualifying rāmaḥ

• me: my
• me: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th), Singular

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• rājīva-locanaḥ: lotus-eyed
• rājīva-locanaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājīva (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet 'lotus-eyed' qualifying rāmaḥ

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• yuddha-yogyatām: fitness for battle
• yuddha-yogyatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + yogyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'yuddhasya yogyatā' (fitness for battle)

• asya: of him
• asya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular; refers to rāmaḥ

• paśyāmi: I see
• paśyāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakari (सहकारी/association marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह), governs Instrumental (तृतीया)

• rākṣasaiḥ: with the demons
• rākṣasaiḥ: Sahakarana (सहकरण/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Context

"My lotus-eyed son Rama is less than sixteen. I do not think he has ability to fight with the rakshasas in a battle.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

A parent-king’s dharma includes protecting a minor child from disproportionate danger; responsibility requires weighing capability against risk.

What is the narrative situation?

Daśaratha resists Viśvāmitra’s request to take Rāma, citing Rāma’s young age and the formidable nature of the rākṣasas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective care and prudence—Daśaratha’s concern for Rāma’s readiness.