Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 23

त्रिशङ्कुशापः

Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra

Devanagari script

तस्य मे परमार्तस्य प्रसादमभिकाङ्क्षत:।।।।कर्तुमर्हसि भद्रं ते दैवोपहतकर्मण:।

Transliteration

tasya me paramārtasya prasādam abhikāṅkṣataḥ | kartum arhasi bhadraṃ te daivopahatakarmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ゆえに、深く苦しみ、あなたのご加護を切に願うこの身にして、運命により行いを打ち砕かれた者へ、どうか慈悲の恩寵をお授けください。あなたに吉祥あれ。

Word by Word

• तस्य: of that / of such (a one)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परम-आर्तस्य: of (me) extremely distressed
• परम-आर्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मे)

• प्रसादम्: favor/grace
• प्रसादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभि-काङ्क्षतः: of (me) desiring
• अभि-काङ्क्षतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are able
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• भद्रम्: good fortune
• भद्रम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; आशीर्वादार्थक-प्रयोगः

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दैव-उपहत-कर्मणः: of (me) whose deeds are struck by fate
• दैव-उपहत-कर्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक) + उपहत (कृदन्त, हन्-धातु) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (दैवेन उपहतं कर्म यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मे)

Context

My merits have been destroyed by destiny. Deeply afflicted, I crave a favour from you. You are fit to grant it. Wish you well!

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Viśvāmitra
• daiva (destiny)
• prasāda (grace)

FAQs

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

Seeking help from the righteous through respectful petition is presented as a legitimate path when one is afflicted; dharma includes compassion and the granting of appropriate aid by the capable.

What is the narrative situation?

Triśaṅku formally requests Viśvāmitra’s intervention, framing himself as crushed by destiny and in need of the sage’s favor.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Supplication with courtesy—he asks for help while offering blessings and acknowledging the sage’s authority.