Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 13

सगरस्य पुत्रलाभः

Sagara’s Boons, Progeny, and the Rise of the Sixty Thousand

Devanagari script

मुनेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा केशिनी रघुनन्दन।पुत्रं वंशकरं राम जग्राह नृपसन्निधौ।।।।

Transliteration

munes tu vacanaṃ śrutvā keśinī raghunandana | putraṃ vaṃśa-karaṃ rāma jagrāha nṛpa-sannidhau || 1.38.13 ||

Translation

ラーマよ、ラグ族の歓びよ――聖仙の言葉を聞いたケーシニーは、王の御前にて、王統を継ぐ子を授かる恩寵を選び取った。

Word by Word

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तु: indeed / then
• तु: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/अनुवादक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• वचनम्: words
• वचनम्: कर्म (of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• केशिनी: Keśinī
• केशिनी: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रघुनन्दन: O delight of the Raghu line
• रघुनन्दन: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रघुनन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (raghu + nandana = 'delighter of Raghu’s line')

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: कर्म (of jagrāha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वंशकरम्: lineage-perpetuating
• वंशकरम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वंशकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies putram); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• जग्राह: accepted / took
• जग्राह: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नृप-सन्निधौ: in the king’s presence
• नृप-सन्निधौ: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nṛpa + sannidhi = 'presence of the king')

Context

"O Rama, delight of the descendants of Raghus, on hearing the words of the ascetic in the presence of king Sagara, Kesini chose the boon to have a son who perpetuates the race.

Characters & Entities

• Keśinī
• Bhṛgu (muni implied)
• Sagara (nṛpa implied)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma of lineage and stewardship: choosing a rightful heir is framed as a duty that supports social and royal order.

What is the narrative situation?

Keśinī selects the boon of a single son who will perpetuate Sagara’s dynasty, with the king witnessing the choice.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Foresight and responsibility: she values continuity and stability over sheer numbers.